Brighton Stun Manchester United again
By Joshua Walters
Brighton and Hove Albion continued their recent good form over Jose Mourinho's Manchester United with a 3-2 win at the Amex Stadium Sunday.
The Red Devils made plenty of unwanted club history in the Premier League last season, and they recorded yet another tale on day-2 of the 2018/19 campaign as they, for the first time in their Premier League history, conceded 3 first-half goals to Chris Hughton's side
The Seagulls beat Man United 1-0 at the same venue in the last term, and Mourinho's hope for a revenge fell flat, though his side managed to score 2 goals on an afternoon where they barely recorded anything positive especially in defense.
The two sides were sluggish within the first 15 minutes of the game. Possession was, nonetheless, balanced, and it was Man United that made the first incursion into opponents' territory in the 20th minute though Romelu Lukaku missed the post narrowly from close range.
Brighton punished the visitors for that miss 5 minutes later when Glenn Murray attacked the goal area on the blind side of his marker, Victor Lindelof, to slot in Solly March's in-swinger with his outside foot.
The hosts did not allow the visitors any reprieve, and a cross into the penalty box from Solly March, 2 minutes later, was cleared out but only as far as Knockaert Anthony. The offensive midfielder hit a stray shot into the box and Shane Duffy capitalised on a loosed marking to shoot into the net.
Romelu Lukaku pulled one back for Man United in the 34th minute with a perfect header to an equally perfect cross from Luke Shaw from the corner spot.
The visitors pushed more men forward hoping to draw parity, at least, before recess, but Brighton had other ideas.
They put the Man United defense under intense pressure towards the death of the half, and Eric Baily won a penalty for the hosts in the 44th minute when he fouled Pascal GroB inside the box. The striker extended the lead with a right-footed shot the high centre of the post.
Man United started the 2nd half a bit brighter than the first, but could not make anything meaningful with the few chances that came their way.
The Red Devils reduced the deficit once again through Paul Pogba's penalty in the 93rd minute, but that was a little too late for them to salvage even a point from the game.
