A final penalty kick awarded Bruno Fernandes for Manchester United their first Premier League victory of the season over Brighton in a superb match dominated by the VAR and woodworker.
After scoring the goal frame three times, Brighton finally took the lead with a penalty kick from Neil Mobay, only for Lewis Dunk’s own goal to give United a lifeline, ahead of Rashford’s impressive effort that put United the lead.
However, Brighton equalized via Solly March in the final seconds, before United were awarded a penalty after the final handball whistle, which Bruno Fernandes turned around in the 100th minute.
Brighton would be scratching their heads wondering how they lost, however, they were denied boarding five times by woodwork in a header match.
Brighton has performed perfectly well against both Chelsea and Newcastle this season and has started well again, unfortunately not coming in within 10 minutes after Leandro Trussard’s left foot shot high off the post.
The Belgian continued to find space around the penalty area, shooting in another impressive attempt this time bouncing off the other post, before a combination of David de Gea and the crossbar blocked Dunk’s header.
The Potter team finally made the breakthrough thanks to a moment of magic by Neal Maupay. The striker converted a superb penalty kick after Bruno Fernández dropped Tariq Lamptey in the penalty area.
After only 194 seconds, United were level, but Dunk scored his own goal under pressure from Harry Maguire after Nemanja Matic’s pass.
Brighton won a penalty just a minute after the start of the second half after Paul Pogba ousted Aaron Connolly, only to referee Chris Kavanagh to overturn his decision, and he decided it was the seagull man who started the call after consulting the stadium side controller.
Rashford then put the ball into the net twice in quick succession, the first of which was correctly disqualified for offside by the VAR. However, there was no mistake in the second, as the English international sprinted inside and out, sending Ben White back to Earth before hitting the grid’s roof with his hand.
To add to the home side’s problems, they then hit the woodwork for the fourth time of the match, with Solly March this time seeing his shot painfully into the outside of the post.
After hitting both the posts in the first half, Trussard completed the set in the second half, his powerful crossbar volley with De Gea completely stranded.
Mars appeared to have stole a header point in the back post in the 95th minute, only to score a penalty kick after the final whistle for Maupay’s handball in the final seconds. The resulting penalty kick was brutally converted by Fernandez.
In the win, United moved up to 13th with a trip to Tottenham to follow, while Brighton moved up to 10th. The duo will meet again on Wednesday, once again at the AMEX Stadium in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.
