Brighton & Hove Albion 2 United 1

The Reds trailed at the break to a goal by former Academy graduate Danny Welbeck and had the ball in the net soon afterwards, only for Marcus Rashford's effort to be disallowed. Amad hauled us level with a deflected drive and Alejandro Garnacho seemed to turned things around. 

However, the celebrations were ended by a VAR intervention, ruling that fellow substitute Joshua Zirkzee's touch to the goalbound effort came before it had crossed the line, and he was offside after sliding to try to meet Bruno Fernandes's cross.

If that was a sickener, worse was to follow as Joao Pedro was left unmarked to claim a 95th-minute winner for the Seagulls.

FIRST HALF - WELBECK ON TARGET

Erik ten Hag’s unchanged starting XI made a solid start, controlling possession and had an excellent chance to grab an early goal but Amad was unable to control his finish, at an awkward height after Diogo Dalot latched onto an Andre Onana pass out and supplied an inviting centre. 

Casemiro headed an Amad free-kick off target after a handball by Joel Veltman, with most of the action coming towards Jason Steele's goal. The impressive Dalot attempted a long-ranger that was not too far away, with 26 minutes gone, and the opener was clearly against the run of play. Joao Pedro's cross managed to reach Karou Mitoma beyond the far post and the Japan international's low ball was converted by ex-Red Welbeck, at full stretch, for his 100th career goal.

Ten Hag's men responded swiftly by cutting through the Seagulls' defence. Amad's cross from the right picked out Rashford and, although Steele saved the initial effort, the ball entered the net off our no.10 from the rebound. However, Rashford had just gone too early and was flagged offside, with the decision confirmed by VAR.

The game became more open with both teams attempting to carve out chances but it remained 1-0 to the home side when the half-time whistle sounded.

SECOND HALF - BEATEN AT THE DEATH

Dalot continued to impress and was forced into a goalline clearance to deny Seagulls veteran James Milner, who slipped the ball past Andre Onana but it just lacked the pace to double the lead. There as another real scare when Welbeck rose highest to meet a corner and send a header against the bar.

However, United rallied and Amad ran down the right to make the most of a pass by Noussair Mazraoui. Cutting inside onto his left foot, the winger’s drive was helped into the net off Jan Paul van Hecke. VAR showed Amad was just onside and provided real impetus, with the score tied at 1-1.

Casemiro steered an effort over the top and, on 70 minutes, it looked like we had edged ourselves in front. A lovely move saw Amad play in Fernandes, and his low ball was steered in by Garnacho. It clearly hit Zirkzee as he slid in but the only question was whether it was already over the line. Unfortunately, the replays showed the goal had to be disallowed, in unusual circumstances.

Joao Pedro’s header was kept out by Onana and the keeper made one desperate slide tackle on Minteh, as Albion started to apply late pressure. Casemiro managed another shot, easily kept out by Steele, but the momentum had shifted and there was a killer blow in the fifth of seven stoppage-time minutes.

Unable to clear our lines, Simon Adingra was allowed to float a cross to the far post, where Joao Pedro was in far too much space to nod past Onana and into the corner of the net.

MATCH DETAILS

Brighton: Steele, Hinselwood, Dunk (c), Van Hecke, Veltman, Gilmour (Ayari.90), Milner (Baleba 73), Mitoma (Adringa 90), Joao Pedro, Minteh (Rutter 90), Welbeck (Enciso 79).

Scorers: Welbeck 32, Pedro 90+5.

Booked: van Hecke.

United: Onana; Mazraoui, Maguire (De Ligt 79), Martinez, Dalot; Casemiro, Mainoo; Amad (Antony 90), Mount (Zirkzee 46), Rashford (Garnacho 65); Fernandes (c) (McTominay 79).

Substitutes not used: Bayindir, Evans, Collyer, Eriksen.

Scorer: Amad 60.

Booked: Amad, Mainoo.

Referee: Craig Pawson