Joao Pedro netted a 95th-minute winner for Brighton & Hove Albion as the Seagulls beat Manchester United 2-1 in Saturday's Premier League clash at the Amex.
Danny Welbeck sent Brighton ahead in the 32nd minute of the contest, but Amad Diallo's deflected effort levelled the scores on the hour.
There was to be a late winner in Saturday's early start, though, with Pedro heading a cross from Simon Adingra into the back of the net to secure all three points for the Seagulls.
Man United had a big chance to make the breakthrough in the early stages of the contest, but Amad turned a brilliant Diogo Dalot cross wide of the post, with the Ivorian volleying wide when he might have used his head.
Against the run of play, Brighton took the lead in the 32nd minute, with Welbeck turning a low cross Kaoru Mitoma cross into the back of the net, before Marcus Rashford had one disallowed down the other end shortly after.
Man United had the better of the first period, but they found themselves behind at the interval, with Welbeck netting his 100th club career goal.
Dalot cleared one from James Milner off the line early in the second period, before Welbeck headed a free kick against the crossbar just before the hour.
Man United levelled the scores in the 60th minute when Amad's low strike was deflected into the back of the Brighton net by Jan Paul van Hecke; there was an offside check, and it was close, but the goal was given.
The Red Devils thought that they had scored a second through Alejandro Garnacho in the 70th minute, but his goal-bound strike was converted on the line by Joshua Zirkzee, so it was disallowed for a very close offside.
Both sides were pushing for a second late on, and it came for Brighton, as Pedro headed a cross from Adingra into the bottom corner.
BRIGHTON VS. MAN UNITED HIGHLIGHTS
Danny Welbeck goal vs. Man United (32nd min, Brighton 1-0 Man United)
Danny Welbeck bags goal no. 💯 of his career against former club Man Utd 🔥 pic.twitter.com/9pVv4LHql7
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) August 24, 2024
Brighton make the breakthrough in the 32nd minute of the contest, as Welbeck turns a low cross from Mitoma into the back of the net from close range.
Welbeck, who is now on 100 career goals, is back to haunt his former club, with the Seagulls scoring against the run of play at the Amex.
James Milner chance vs. Man United (52nd min, Brighton 1-0 Man United)
James Milner comes desperately close to bagging a second for Brighton 🫣 pic.twitter.com/PQvWgW7WM5
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) August 24, 2024
Brighton come close to a second goal shortly after the restart, but Milner's effort is cleared off the line by Dalot, who has been excellent for Man United.
Danny Welbeck chance vs. Man United (58th min, Brighton 1-0 Man United)
Danny Welbeck close to a second but his header bounces off the bar 🫣 pic.twitter.com/kDndxKb5CI
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) August 24, 2024
Welbeck comes close to scoring a second, but his header hits the crossbar, as Man United are given a let off just before the hour.
Amad Diallo goal vs. Brighton (60th min, Brighton 1-1 Man United)
Amad Diallo secures the equaliser and Man Utd are level 🔥 pic.twitter.com/vW2UHQdK3t
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) August 24, 2024
Man United level the scores in the 60th minute of the contest, as Amad drives into the Brighton box before converting, with his effort hitting Van Hecke before ending up in the back of the net.
There is a check for offside, and it is very close, but the goal stands.
Joshua Zirkzee disallowed goal vs. Brighton (72nd min, Brighton 1-1 Man United)
Alejandro Garnacho scores for Man Utd but it's disallowed for one of the tightest offsides you'll see 🫣 pic.twitter.com/wVw1UicyZu
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) August 24, 2024
Man United think that they have scored a second through Garnacho, but replays show that the attacker's effort hit Zirkzee, who was on the line, and flew into the back of the net.
VAR therefore intervene to disallow the goal.
Joao Pedro goal vs. Man United (95th min, Brighton 2-1 Man United)
Brighton may well have grabbed the winner in the dying minutes 🔥 pic.twitter.com/hM3KqavC5p
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) August 24, 2024
Brighton win it in the final moments, as Pedro heads a dangerous delivery from Adingra into the back of the net from close range. Heartbreak for Man United.
MAN OF THE MATCH - JOAO PEDRO
© Imago
This award was going to Dalot, who was excellent for long stages against Brighton, but Pedro must be given the man-of-the-match award due to his late show.
It was a brilliant header from the forward into the bottom corner, and he caused Man United all sorts of issues throughout his 90 minutes on the field.
A lot of Brighton's strong work came through Pedro, and he had the final say against Man United to move his team onto six points from two Premier League matches.
BRIGHTON VS. MAN UNITED MATCH STATS
Possession: Brighton 44%-56% Man United
Shots: Brighton 10-8 Man United
Shots on target: Brighton 6-2 Man United
Corners: Brighton 4-4 Man United
Fouls: Brighton 5-10 Man United
BEST STATS
1 - Noussair Mazraoui setting up Amad Diallo is the first time @ManUtd have scored a Premier League goal that was both scored and assisted by African players. Continental. #BHAMUN pic.twitter.com/o6fLAPUKnn
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 24, 2024
100 - Danny Welbeck's opener was the 100th goal of his club career in all competitions, while he's only scored more against West Ham (7) than he has against former side Manchester United (6). Guy. #BHAMUN pic.twitter.com/wkyhBGdVtU
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 24, 2024
6 - Since 2022-23, Manchester United have lost more Premier League games thanks to goals scored in the 90th minute (+ stoppage time) than any other side (6); they'd only lost two such games in the first 30 campaigns in the competition combined. Asleep. #BHAMUN pic.twitter.com/F6JXEWUHti
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 24, 2024
WHAT NEXT?
Brighton will be aiming to progress in the EFL Cup on Tuesday evening when they welcome Crawley Town to the Amex, before attempting to make it three wins from three league matches away to Arsenal on August 31.
Man United, meanwhile, will be bidding to return to winning ways in the Premier League when they welcome Liverpool to Old Trafford next Sunday.
The Red Devils will be looking to complete a deal for Paris Saint-Germain's Manuel Ugarte in the latter stages of the market, while players are also expected to depart, including Jadon Sancho, who was left out again here.
Matt Law
