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Coming from behind
It was a familiar script with a similar ending on Sunday as Manchester United edged Brighton 2-1.
Second-half goals from Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood helped cancel out the opening goal from former United striker Danny Welbeck.
Like their opening Premier League match of the season back in September, the Seagulls took the lead in the first-half but once again, the Reds stormed back, scoring a late winner to collect all three points.
Game Story
Early on, United looked like the desperate side in need of three points to close the gap between themselves and Manchester City.
Bruno Fernandes played a lovely one-two with Marcus Rashford in the 8th minute before the Portuguese star fed Mason Greenwood in the box.
The United striker drilled a low shot in the corner but it hit the post.
Brighton made the most of the excellent fortune five minutes later when they took the lead on seemingly their first attack of the game.
A lousy giveaway from Paul Pogba in midfield as Brighton worked the ball out to Neal Maupay on the right.
Maupay delivered a lovely cross into the six-yard box towards Danny Welbeck, who headed it straight at Dean Henderson, then got the rebound and headed it home.
Henderson did well to keep United in the game in the 19th minute.
An excellent in-swinging free-kick from Pascal Groß towards Lewis Dunk, who rose highest in the middle of the box to head it towards goal, but Henderson, with a great reaction, tipped it over the bar.
Pogba nearly cost United a second goal just before the end of the half.
The Frenchman scuffed his clearance off a Seagulls corner as the ball fell nicely to Jakub Modern.
His shot on the half volley was touched just wide of the target by Rashford.
In the second half, United looked a very different side determined to get back into the game.
Rashford got away from Adam Lallana in the 52nd minute after an excellent feed from Harry Maguire, but his shot was straight at Robert Sanchez in the Brighton goal.
Sanchez was in an excellent position to thwart Bruno Fernandes after Pogba tried to slip him through on goal; the Spanish keeper was off his line quickly to get there before Fernandes could.
United’s pressure eventually paid off a couple of minutes later.
Fernandes carried the ball forward, playing Marcus Rashford clean in on goal.
This time, the English striker curled a low shot around Sanchez to level the match.
Brighton almost regained the lead with 20 minutes to play.
Maupay was picked out nicely in space on the left as he drilled a lovely cross into the six-yard box towards Welbeck.
Some excellent defensive work from the skipper Harry Maguire though put Welbeck under a lot of pressure as he rolled a shot wide of the far post.
Sanchez kept the game even in the 76th minute as some space opened up for Fernandes.
The Portuguese midfielder unleashed a powerful low shot that Sanchez parried away.
The rebound squirted out to Daniel James, who found Greenwood, but the Englishman mishit his shot over the bar.
Greenwood made up for that miss a few minutes later.
Paul Pogba tried to volley the Fernandes cross but didn’t strike it quite right.
Luckily for United it took a friendly bounce towards Greenwood, who alertly headed it in past Sanchez.
United hung on over the next few minutes to capture their third win this season in all competitions against the Seagulls.
Man of the Match
Whenever they’ve been down this season, United have always been able to count on Bruno Fernandes.
The Portuguese superstar brought the Reds back after a challenging first half where United seemed to be chasing the Seagulls.
His feed to Rashford just past the hour mark was his fifth goal involvement in his last three Premier League matches against Brighton.
His precision and determination helped the Reds get back into this match and eventually collect three points.
Unlucky 13
The Seagulls were right there throughout the 90 minutes but once again came away empty-handed.
Brighton lost their first Premier League fixture this season to United on a late injury-time penalty from Bruno Fernandes.
In both their Premier League encounters this season, Brighton got the opening goal but squandered their lead in the second half.
The Seagulls are now winless in 13 EPL fixtures at Old Trafford.
Down but never out
Coming from behind is a very familiar sight when we watch Man United games in the Premier League.
The Reds have now won eight EPL matches this season after conceding the opening goal.
Only Newcastle in 2001-02 and Man United in 2012-13 have won more games in one season after conceding first (they both won nine).
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men have now won 25 points from losing positions in this Premier League campaign which is nine more than any other EPL side.
Unable to close the deal
We’re used to seeing United fight back this season, and we’re also used to seeing Brighton start well but unable to close it out.
Graham Potter’s side has now dropped 20 points from winning positions in this Premier League campaign.
That’s three points more than any other EPL team.
Managers Words
United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said his team did well to fight back after a tough first half.
“It’s always difficult to play Brighton. We have had good results, and we’ve had to earn them the hard way. We managed to find a way in the second half.”
“I thought we started well, but when they scored, after that we couldn’t find our rhythm again and we needed half-time to compose ourselves and go again. Second half, we played some good stuff. More runs in behind, more movement, better movement.
Next Up
United will turn their attention to the Europa League as they prepare to face Granada on Thursday.
The first-leg of that quarter-final tie kicks off from Los Carmenes in Spain at 8 pm.
Man United’s next Premier League match is next Sunday against Burnley.
That game from Old Trafford begins at 4:30 pm. (JSL).
