Brighton stages second-half comeback
Manchester United were eliminated from the Carabao Cup after a 3-2 defeat to Brighton, despite holding a two-goal lead at Old Trafford. This result marks a significant setback for United, following a recent derby loss against Manchester City and a challenging start to their league campaign.
The match began positively for Michael Carrick‘s side. Shea Lacey, 19, scored on his first start for the club, opening the scoring eight minutes into the game. Lacey’s goal came after he navigated Brighton’s area, beating Jaouen Hadjam and firing past Jason Steele. Benjamin Sesko‘s hold-up play was noted in the build-up, allowing United players to advance, with Youri Tielemans assisting Lacey.
Less than two minutes later, Mason Mount doubled United’s advantage. Marcus Rashford‘s run on the left created an opportunity, and although Steele initially saved Rashford’s effort, the ball rebounded to Mount, who scored his first goal since a victory against Wolves last December.
Despite United’s strong start, Brighton began to find their footing. A break by Malick Yalcouyé saw him through on goal against debutant goalkeeper Karl Darlow, but his shot went wide. Pascal Gross also missed a chance for Brighton.
Brighton’s comeback began when Charalampos Kostoulas scored just before half-time. Hadjam’s diagonal pass cut through United’s defence, allowing Kostoulas to beat Darlow. This goal provided Brighton with renewed hope, despite United having controlled much of the first half.
Second-half collapse for United
The second half saw Brighton complete their turnaround. Luka Vuskovic headed the ball to Pascal Gross, who then scored to level the match. Soon after, Brighton took the lead when Maxim De Cuyper finished after Kostoulas’s cross deflected off Noussair Mazraoui.
Carrick made tactical changes, introducing Bruno Fernandes for Mount in the 72nd minute, followed by Matheus Cunha. However, United were unable to find an equaliser. Rashford had a late chance to make it 3-3 but hit Steele instead of the net.
The defeat ends a 50-year record for United, as the last time they lost at Old Trafford after holding a two-goal lead was in September 1976 against Tottenham. The prolonged boos from the crowd at the final whistle reflected the disappointment.
Carrick reflected on the match, stating, “The start of the game was fantastic. It was everything we hoped for, even more really, in some ways in Shea getting his goal.” He acknowledged the team let the game get away from them, resulting in a “disappointing night.” Carrick added, “We can’t be in a position like that and lose the game in that manner. I’ll understand the disappointments and frustrations. I accept that. That’s on me.”
The manager emphasised the need for the team to evolve and learn from such situations. “We have to keep learning and dealing with situations. Sometimes they come a bit easier than others. Tonight was a tough one. We didn’t find a way out of it.”
Carrick also mentioned recent setbacks, including a late goal against Everton and the goal conceded against Manchester City, suggesting these incidents accumulate to create a larger sense of disappointment. He concluded by stating the team must find answers for their upcoming match against Fulham on Sunday.
This loss adds to United’s difficult start to the season, having secured only four points from 12 in the league. Brighton, in contrast, are in fifth place in the league table after a strong start to their campaign, including a 5-0 victory over Coventry on Sunday.
Brighton had previously lost only one of their last five visits to Old Trafford before this victory, highlighting their recent form against United. The result means United have exited both domestic cups at the earliest opportunity this season, following their early exit last season as well.
The match saw several key moments, including a wild long-range shot from Tielemans that went over the bar, and a burst from Sesko that forced Steele to clear the ball. Despite these moments, United could not maintain their control over the game, ultimately leading to their defeat on 2026-09-16.
Source: theguardian.com