MU 4-2 Brighton: Mbeumo and Cunha shine and break the jinx.
Goals from Cunha (24th minute), Casemiro (33rd minute), Mbeumo (61st minute) and 90'+7th minute helped Manchester United beat Brighton 4-2 at Old Trafford. Welbeck scored from a free kick in the 74th minute and Kostoulas in the 90'+3rd minute for the visitors. This was Manchester United's third consecutive win, moving them up to fourth place with 16 points.
Manchester United beat Brighton 4-2 at Old Trafford thanks to goals from Cunha (24'), Casemiro (33') and a brace from Mbeumo (61', 90'+7). Welbeck (74') and Kostoulas (90'+3) scored for the visitors. This was MU's third consecutive win in the 2025/26 Premier League season, breaking a jinx against an opponent considered a nemesis.
Drama in injury time: the end for Brighton.
Brighton pulled one back to 2-3 in the 90th+3 minute, putting the game on edge. But in the 90th+7 minute, MU delivered the decisive blow: Heaven played a through ball, Bruno Fernandes cleverly flicked the ball away, and Mbeumo finished accurately to seal a 4-2 victory.
Match summary of MU vs Brighton
MU started proactively with a three-centre-back formation and high-pressure pressing. In the 24th minute, Casemiro passed the ball into the edge of the penalty area for Matheus Cunha to curl it into the far corner, opening the scoring at 1-0.
In the 33rd minute, following a Manchester United press, Casemiro took a shot from over 20 meters out, the ball deflected off Ayari, and the score became 2-0. Manchester United maintained a good tempo until the end of the first half.
In the second half, MU continued to be sharp in their transitions. In the 61st minute, Sesko intercepted the ball from midfield and played a through pass to Mbeumo, who finished with his left foot into the near corner, making it 3-0.
Brighton fought back. In the 74th minute, Danny Welbeck took a free kick from the edge of the penalty area, sending the ball into the corner and leaving Lammens helpless. Towards the end of the match, the visitors pulled one back to 2-3 when Kostoulas headed in a corner kick in the 90'+3 minute. However, Mbeumo sealed the comeback seven minutes later with a goal to make it 4-2.
Score a goal
| Minute | Player | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24' | Matheus Cunha | MAY | 1-0 |
| 33' | Casemiro | MAY | 2-0 |
| 61' | Bryan Mbeumo | MAY | 3-0 |
| 74' | A.G. Wel. | Brighton | 3-1 |
| 90'+3 | Kostoulas | Brighton | 3-2 |
| 90'+7 | Bryan Mbeumo | MAY | 4-2 |
Tactical analysis
MU: Three central defenders, high-pressure pressing, and sharp transitions.
MU started with Lammens; a three-man central defense of De Ligt, Yoro, and Luke Shaw; wingbacks Amad and Dalot; a midfield of Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes; and an attacking trio of Mbeumo, Cunha, and Sesko. This structure helped MU shield the midfield and be ready to press immediately upon losing possession.
The 2-0 goal in the 33rd minute was proof of effective pressing: MU won the ball in the midfield third, and Casemiro immediately finished while the Brighton defense was still disorganized. In transitional plays, Sesko was the link along the wing and in the half-space, as seen in the 61st minute when he threaded a pass to Mbeumo.
After taking a 3-0 lead, manager Amorim adjusted the tempo and personnel in the 69th minute (substituting Luke Shaw, Casemiro, and Amad; bringing in Heaven, Mainoo, and Dorgu) to reinforce the midfield and provide cover on the flanks against Brighton's late-game pressure.
Brighton: 4-2-3-1, pushed hard at the end of the match but paid the price for the gaps.
Brighton started with Verbruggen; Wieffer, Dunk, Van Hecke, Kadioglu; the midfield pairing of Baleba and Ayari; and the trio of Minteh, Rutter, and De Cuyper supporting Welbeck. They tried short passes to escape the pressing (between minutes 13-16), but were frequently disrupted by MU in the second line of attack.
Late efforts resulted in two goals: a superb free-kick from Welbeck and a header from a corner by Kostoulas. However, pushing forward also left their goal exposed and were punished by MU in the 90th minute + 7.
Notable statistics
- Mbeumo scored a brace (61', 90'+7); his 71st-minute shot hit the post.
- Cunha scored his first goal for MU, opening the scoring in the 24th minute.
- Casemiro extended the lead to 2-0 with a long-range shot after a pressing situation in the 33rd minute.
- Welbeck scored from a free kick in the 74th minute; Kostoulas headed in the 90'+3 minute.
- MU have won all three of their last matches in the Premier League.
Starting lineup
- MU: Lammens; De Ligt, Yoro, Shaw; Amad, Casemiro, Fernandes, Dalot; Mbeumo, Cunha, Sesko.
- Brighton: Verbruggen; Wieffer, Dunk, Van Hecke, Kadioglu; Baleba, Ayari; Minteh, Rutter, De Cuyper; Welbeck.
Impact on rankings and prospects
With 3 points, MU moved up to 4th place in the 2025/26 Premier League with 16 points after 9 matches. Brighton are in 13th place with 12 points after 9 matches. This victory solidifies MU's momentum and marks a psychological turning point after a series of unfavorable results against Brighton in the past.
