Manchester United's defensive vulnerabilities were laid bare once more as they succumbed to a 2-1 defeat against Brighton in a dramatic turn of events at the Amex Stadium on Saturday.
The late heartache came courtesy of Joao Pedro, whose header in the 95th minute handed Brighton a memorable victory and a perfect home Premier League debut for their new manager, Fabian Hurzeler.
The match had seemed destined for a draw after Amad Diallo’s deflected shot equalised Danny Welbeck’s first-half goal for Brighton. However, Pedro's decisive header at the back post stole the spotlight, leaving United's beleaguered defense exposed yet again.
Despite a hefty investment in defensive reinforcements during the transfer window—bringing in Noussair Mazraoui, Matthijs de Ligt, and Leny Yoro—United's backline was far from solid. De Ligt, along with Scott McTominay, was caught napping under Simon Adingra's cross, which allowed Pedro to secure Brighton’s win.
"If you protect the goal like we do then you drop points," lamented United boss Erik ten Hag. "We concede two soft goals where we should act better as a team. We have to be alive in such moments."
The defeat puts Ten Hag's position back under the microscope, with Liverpool set to visit Old Trafford next weekend. Although the former Ajax manager had survived an internal review after a disappointing eighth-place finish last season—thanks in part to winning the FA Cup—his side’s inconsistent performances this season have yet to instill confidence.
United's season had started with a narrow 1-0 victory against Fulham, courtesy of Joshua Zirkzee’s late goal. However, their display against Brighton suggested a continuation of the struggles that plagued their previous campaign.
Brighton, meanwhile, continue to impress under Hurzeler’s stewardship. The Seagulls, who had dispatched Everton 3-0 in Hurzeler's first match, are shaping up to be strong contenders for European football next season. Hurzeler expressed his satisfaction with his team's performance, particularly their belief and resilience.
"We had a great attitude and belief in each other," Hurzeler said. "Winners in the last minute are always emotional."
Brighton's opener came from a lapse in United's defense as Harry Maguire failed to intercept a dangerous cross, allowing Kaoru Mitoma to set up Welbeck for his 100th career goal. United thought they had equalized through Marcus Rashford, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.
In the second half, Brighton pressed for a second goal, with James Milner’s effort cleared off the line by Diogo Dalot and Welbeck hitting the bar. United's hopes were briefly lifted when Diallo’s deflected shot drew them level, but a VAR decision ruled out what could have been a crucial second goal by Garnacho after Zirkzee’s inadvertent touch.
The decisive blow came as Pedro capitalized on poor marking by McTominay and De Ligt, heading home to secure a dramatic win for Brighton. United’s defensive woes continue to cast a shadow over Ten Hag’s tenure as they prepare for a crucial clash against Liverpool next week.
