Manchester United Blow Two Goal Lead Against Brighton

Manchester United suffered a dramatic 3–2 home defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion in the League Cup third round, crashing out of the competition despite establishing a two-goal advantage at Old Trafford. United appeared to be in complete control after goals from Shea Lacey and Mason Mount gave Michael Carrick’s side a 2–0 lead. Brighton, however, gave themselves hope just before half-time when Charalampos Kostoulas scored in stoppage time, reducing the deficit to one goal heading into the interval. The second half brought a complete turnaround. Pascal Groß equalised in the 65th minute, and only four minutes later Maxim De Cuyper scored Brighton’s third, completing a remarkable comeback and leaving United stunned. United were unable to find a response in the closing stages, and the final whistle confirmed another early domestic cup exit. The defeat was particularly significant because it marked the first time since September 1976 that Manchester United lost at Old Trafford after leading by two goals. The result adds further pressure after United’s recent 1–0 Premier League defeat to Manchester City, with Carrick acknowledging after the match that he was responsible for the team’s poor second-half performance. United have also now suffered early exits from domestic cup competitions across consecutive seasons. For Brighton, it was a memorable comeback victory at one of English football’s most famous stadiums. For United, it was another painful night defined by a loss of control after seemingly having the match in their hands.