Brighton and Hove Albion were the better side as they defeated Manchester United 2-1 right at Old Trafford in their first game of the 2022/23 EPL season.
The first half started with both teams looking sharp in attack. Brighton had a chance by Leandro Trossard hit the side netting in the first minute while Bruno Fernandes missed a clear chance from close range.
Man United’s momentum did not last long as Brighton regained possession and continued being the better side in the half, driving freely through the midfield.
The first goal came in the 30th minute after a fine display in the midfield by Brighton’s midfielders ended in a through pass to Danny Welbeck who delivered a low cross into the box for Pascal Gross to score from close range.
It only took nine minutes for Brighton to add a second goal as Pascal Gross curled in a rebound after a shot from Solomon March was saved by David De Gea.
Man United improved in the second half as Marcus Rashford’s shot hit the side netting early in the first five minutes.
Cristiano Ronaldo who was benched by Man United’s new coach Erik Ten Haag, came on for Fred in the 53rd minute as Man United continued to search for goals.
At the hour mark, Rashford missed a sitter after receiving a perfect cross from Ronaldo. Well, the linesman had his flag up for offside.
A cross from the right flank by Bruno Fernandes met Rashford once again but he fired wide off target in the 64th minute.
Two minutes later, Christian Eriksen saw his shot from outside the box parried away by the goalkeeper and cleared out for cornerkick by a Brighton defender.
The resulting cornerkick led to an own goal by Mac Allister after the cross deflected off Diogo Dalot and that narrowed the scoreline to 2-1 at sixty five minutes.
There was a VAR review for possible offside in the build up to the goal but the goal stood.
Man United continued to press for an equalizer as a shot from Dalot was saved by the goalkeeper in the 72nd minute.
Brighton made a double substitution in the 76th minute as Enock Mwepu and Tariq Lamptey came on for Adam Lallana and Leandro Trossard respectively while Donny Van De Beek came on for McTominay as Man United’s second substitution of the day.
New signing, Lisandro Martinez had a shot traveling over the crossbar as the quest for a late equalizer continued.
Brighton went close to scoring a 3rd goal as a shot from Mac Allister from outside the box went just wide off the post.
A triple substitution in the 89th minute by Erik Ten Haag could not salvage Man United a point as they opened the season with a 2-1 defeat to Brighton.
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