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Manager-less United’s hopes of ending a chaotic season with a trophy came to nothing. Danny Welbeck Score again against his old club brighton Finally defeated the Red Devils and won the FA Cup for the first time.
A whirlwind week ended in disappointment after Ruben Amorim was sacked after 14 months of lackluster performances. Darren Fletcher Overseeing a third-round exit, this would be his final game in interim charge.
Brighton had been eliminated by Manchester United in each of their previous six FA Cup games but ended that disaster with a 2-1 win at Old Trafford thanks to Brajan Gruda’s early strike and Welbeck’s eighth goal against his boyhood club.
Albion survived a late strike after Benjamin Sesko’s header and teenage substitute Shea Lacey was sent off for two yellow cards as the Red Devils failed to progress into the fourth round for the first time in 12 years.
It was United’s first defeat at the opening gate of two domestic competitions since the 1981-82 season, meaning they will play just 40 official games this season, their fewest in a single season in 111 years.
This means that whoever between Solskjaer and Carrick is appointed on an interim basis will only have to deal with Premier League matters, but a 17-point gap to leaders Arsenal means the club’s title hopes effectively end 11 days later in 2026.
Fletcher came out of the tunnel to a warm welcome and his side started well on Sunday, with Jason Steele’s two early saves changing the course of the game.
Just two minutes later, substitute goalkeeper Diogo Dalot was met by Matheus Cunha and then blocked Bruno Fernandez’s shot from outside the area, providing the platform for Albion to take the lead in the 12th minute.
Welbeck received Georginio Root’s cross and Lisandro Martinez headed the ball clear. Gruda reacted fastest and scored the ball into the goal.
Manchester United should defend and goaltend better Sene Ramens His side almost made matters worse when Welbeck was seen stealing the ball, only to save the veteran’s effort and saw the offside Root mess up the ensuing attack.
But there was little response from the Red Devils as the atmosphere at Old Trafford grew dull, with Fernandes’ unorthodox free-kick and Cunha’s strike giving the home fans hope before the break.
Fletcher came back and tried to get the crowd excited, but there was little to cheer about after a disappointingly slow start to the second quarter.
Lacey and Joshua Zirkzee came on to change the situation but Brighton extended their lead shortly afterwards.
In the 64th minute, Welbeck received a pass from Gruda, touched the ball easily, and shot the ball into the upper left corner.
“Attack, attack, attack,” a frustrated United fan said as Cesc nodded.
Teenager Lacey rose and Cesco saw a saved snap at the end, with the summer signing providing hope when he headed home from Fernandez’s corner in the 85th minute.
United were left breathless but a late equalizer evaded them and a bad day turned worse late on as 18-year-old Lacey picked up two yellow cards in quick succession – the second for dissent.