Manchester United crashed out of the FA Cup within the third spherical after struggling a 2-1 defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion at Previous Trafford.
Within the second recreation post-Ruben Amorim, it was a lacklustre exhibiting from United, who will now solely play a 40-game season in 2025/26.
It didn’t take lengthy for the guests to take the lead. Brajan Gruda opened the scoring simply 12 minutes into the conflict, discovering himself in acres of area within the penalty space and punching on a free ball. He made no mistake from yards out, lashing dwelling to offer the Seagulls the lead.
Regardless of getting 12 photographs off within the first-half, United couldn’t discover an equaliser. Then, simply previous the hour mark, issues obtained even worse. Former Crimson Devils star Danny Welbeck doubled his aspect’s lead, firing dwelling a depraved effort previous Senne Lammens.
Darren Fletcher’s aspect did handle to tug a objective again because of Benjamin Sesko, who now has three objectives in his final two video games. Nevertheless, the Slovenian’s header from Bruno Fernandes’ nook proved too little, too late, and United failed to attain the second objective to ship the sport to further time.
It was a day to neglect for United, however teenage star Shea Lacey impressed on FA Cup debut, even when he did obtain a late pink card.
Lacey’s efficiency vs. Brighton
18-year-old starlet Lacey had a heartbreaking finish to the sport, being booked twice in a matter of minutes after committing a foul, then reacting by throwing the ball angrily to the bottom. He was clearly devastated in regards to the final result as he walked off the pitch.
But, it is vital to not let that harsh dismissal tarnish what was a improbable efficiency from the Liverpool-born winger.
Working out on the right-hand aspect, Lacey was a continuing menace to Brighton, driving at their defence with function and seeking to provide one thing within the closing third.
He obtained plaudits for his efficiency regardless of the pink card. United’s quantity 61 obtained a 6/10 post-match score from Manchester Night Information journalist Tyrone Marshall. He mentioned Lacey “lifted” Fletcher’s aspect together with his trickery.
The 18-year-old’s stats from the sport again that up, too. He had a huge impact in simply 15 touches of the ball, creating one likelihood and trying two dribbles. It was a optimistic efficiency from the Carrington graduate.
There’s actually a case to be made that Lacey outshone one in every of United’s senior attackers.
Man United star outshone by Lacey
Taking part in in a extra unfamiliar position on the appropriate, it was a tricky day on the workplace for Crimson Devils quantity seven, Mason Mount. He struggled to make a lot of an influence going ahead and didn’t actually pose the dynamic menace Lacey did later within the recreation.
That was actually picked up on by Marshall who gave Mount a decrease score than {the teenager} at simply 5/10. The journalist mentioned he “struggled together with his position on the appropriate” and famous that he was “a weak point defensively” in opposition to Ferdi Kadioglou, too.
The 27-year-old’s numbers on the finish of the sport recommend it was an evening to neglect. He had simply 23 touches throughout the hour – ten fewer than Lammens – and misplaced the ball 5 instances. He did not create an opportunity and solely accomplished eight of 9 passes within the Seagulls’ half.
|
Mount key stats vs. Brighton |
|
|---|---|
|
Stat |
Quantity |
|
Touches |
23 |
|
Passes accomplished |
14/16 |
|
Opposition half passes accomplished |
8/9 |
|
Variety of instances ball misplaced |
5 |
|
Floor duels received |
2/2 |
|
Crosses accomplished |
0/2 |
|
Key passes |
0 |
|
Pictures |
1 |
|
Dribbles |
0 |
|
Tackles |
0 |
|
Stats from Sofascore |
|
It’s at present unclear who will take the sport subsequent up for managerless United. They face Manchester Metropolis at Previous Trafford subsequent Saturday lunchtime, however Mount’s efficiency in opposition to Brighton may need harmed his possibilities of a begin on the appropriate wing.
Lacey, in fact, is banned for that recreation, however the Crimson Devils have loads of choices. Each Amad and Bryan Mbeumo are again from AFCON after their respective nations had been eradicated over the weekend.
It provides whoever is in cost two new gamers to pick out out vast on the appropriate, and certainly reduces Mount’s possibilities of a begin out on that aspect. He actually didn’t provide a lot in opposition to Brighton, and may lose his place within the aspect because of this.
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