A Chance to do the double and gain revenge for Wembley.
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 1 (Alexis Mac Allister 1, penalty - 90+9 minutes ) MANCHESTER UNITED 0 -
PREMIER LEAGUE -
at the AMERICAN EXPRESS COMMUNITY STADIUM, FALMER.
After their FA Cup semi-final elimination at the hands of Manchester United eleven days ago, the Albion entertained the Reds at the Amex in a Premier League game, "live" in front of the Sky Sports cameras and broadcast over the airwaves on Talksport and BBC Radio Sussex Sport.
Following the record-breaking 6-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Amex on the 29 April, Albion Head Coach Roberto De Zerbi made four changes to his starting line-up from that game, with Moises Caicedo, Alexis Mac Allister, Facundo Buonanotte and Kaoru Mitoma replacing Joel Veltman (injured), Pascal Gross (injured), Solly March and Deniz Undav, the latter two dropping down to the substitutes bench.
Last time out in the Premier, United beat Aston Villa 1-0 at Old Trafford on the 30 April and for the visit to the Amex, Manager Erik Ten Hag made four changes to his starting line-up from that game, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Fred, Antony and Anthony Martial replacing Tyrell Malacia, Marcel Sabitzer, Christian Eriksen and Jadon Sancho, the latter four dropping down to the substitutes bench.
Earlier this season, on the opening-day of the current Premier League campaign on the 7 August 2022, the Albion visited Old Trafford and returned home with the three points after a fine 2-1 win, with Pascal Gross (30m & 39m) notching two goals and United's goal coming from an Alexis Mac Allister own goal (68m).
Last season's meetings saw United win 2-0 at Old Trafford on the 15 February 2022, with their goals coming from Cristiano Ronaldo (51m) and Bruno Fernandes (90+6m). In the return fixture at the Amex on the 7 May 2022, the Albion ran out 4-0 winners, with their goals being scored by Moises Caicedo (15m), Marc Cucurella (49m), Pascal Gross (57m) and Leandro Trossard (60m).
Having won at Old Trafford on the opening-day of the season, the Albion were looking to complete a double over United at the Amex. The match started at a frantic pace and United had a great chance to take an early lead when Antony found himself in the clear but the winger fired his shot wide when he should have done better.
Within a minute Kaoru Mitoma picked up a United mis-placed pass, raced clear of the Reds defence but sent his shot straight at David De Gea, the United keeper taking the full force to his face and for which he required lengthy treatment. Mitoma then got clear on the left but his low shot missed the far post by a whisker and next Adam Webster headed a corner straight at keeper De Gea.
United had a spell, Antony shot into the side netting, Casemiro's header landed on the top of the net and Albion keeper Jason Steele made a fine save in denying Marcus Rashford. Steele then made a good save to keep out a shot from Anthony Martial and the last act of the opening half saw Facunda Buonanotte fizz a low shot just wide of the post.
Half-time 0-0.
Early second-half, Mitoma and then Danny Welbeck missed relatively easy chances to put the Seagulls ahead before Steele made a routine save from a Bruno Fernandes volley. Casemiro for United sent a rising shot over the bar and at the other end Julio Enciso's well-placed shot just missed the target. Substitute Solly March made a fine run from the right before unleashing a left-foot shot which missed the target by inches.
It had been all Albion second-half and in the closing minutes keeper De Gea made superb saves to deflect a long-distance piledriver from Alexis Mac Allister and a similiar effort from Pervis Estupinan. Referee Andre Marriner signalled five minutes time added on and near the end thereof VAR checked a possible hand-ball by United defender Luke Shaw.
After a visit to the touch-line monitor the Referee awarded Albion a penalty on 96 minutes 27 seconds and eventually on 99 minutes Mac Allister calmly converted the penalty to give Albion a deserved win. 1-0.
Seconds later the Referee's whistle blew and the Albion supporters raised the roof.
Final-score 1-0.
Stats: Albion had 22 shots at goal, with 6 on target and won 8 corners, free-kicks conceded - 10.
Manchester United had 16 shots at goal, with 5 on target and won 6 corners, free-kicks conceded - 14.
VERDICT - A night of drama at the Amex saw the Albion gain a deserved last minute win over Manchester United and a league double to boot. The win also gave the Albion revenge after the FA Cup semi-final defeat by United at Wembley on the 23 April.
Albion line-up (4-2-3-1):- Jason Steele; Moises Caicedo, Adam Webster, Lewis Dunk, (Capt), Pervis Estupinan; Billy Gilmour (Levi Colwill 75), Alexis Mac Allister; Facundo Buonanotte (Solly March 63), Julio Enciso, Kaoru Mitoma; Danny Welbeck (Deniz Undav 75).
Subs not used: Robert Sanchez (G/K), Jan Paul Van Hecke, Yasin Ayari, Odeluga Offiah, Andrew Moran, Cameron Peupion.
Manchester United line-up (4-3-3):- David De Gea; Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelof, Luke Shaw, Diogo Dalot; Fred (Marcel Sabitzer 76), Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes (Capt); Antony (Jadon Sancho 76), Anthony Martial (Wout Weghorst 84), Marcus Rashford.
Subs not used: Jack Butland (G/K), Harry Maguire, Tyrell Malacia, Christian Eriksen, Facundo Pellistri, Brandon Williams.
Referee: Andre Marriner (West Midlands).
Yellow Cards: Albion: 4 - Moises Caicedo, Adam Webster, Lewis Dunk, Levi Colwill.
Manchester United: 4 - Luke Shaw, Diogo Dalaot, Casemiro, Antony.
Possession: Albion - 60%. Manchester United - 40%.
Talksport Player of the Match: Lewis Dunk (Albion).
Attendance: 31577.