Manchester United fall to Brighton and Hove Albion
By Wyatt Miner
In a poor showing, Manchester United fall to a lowly placed Brighton team. However, the Red Devils had no shortage of chances.
Manchester United were clear favorites to win this match, as their place in the Premier League is high. Even though Brighton won, Manchester United did not need to win. While everyone expects a win from a team as good as United, there is nothing at stake for the club. Manchester United already clinched a top four position, and they cannot win the Premier League.
Brighton’s first chance came early in the match from a rocketing Glenn Murray volley. Thankfully for United, the team of the year goalkeeper stood strong to deny the Brighton man. If it were any other man in goal, that shot surely would have went in. Fellaini allowed Murray the space for the shot, and that could have cost United even more so than it already did.
Manchester United looked poorly put together, as the team struggled to link up with one another. For instance, early in the match, Juan Mata passed to Marcus Rashford. Then, Rashford tried to link with a teammate, and the ball ended up rolling out of bounds. From the start, this was not United’s match to win.
From the Brighton throw in, Rashford stole the ball back deep in the opposing half. While United earned a real chance, Rashford squandered it reluctantly holding onto the ball close to the net. The English striker had an open Anthony Martial in the middle, but the chance came and went with no results for the Red Devils.
Manchester United continued to attack the goal, but Brighton struck first.
In a breakdown of the Manchester United team, Brighton managed to get the ball over the line. Pascal Gross was the man to head the ball towards the net, and Marcos Rojo tried to keep it out. However, the assistant ref ruled it as a goal. Even though Brighton scored, it barely made it over the line.
Manchester United did not give up, though. Chance after chance, United looked much stronger. Perhaps, United’s best chance came in a link up of play between two England teammates, Rashford and Jesse Lingard. Lingard found himself one on one with the keeper, but he shanked the ball wide of the net. He appealed for a penalty kick, though, as a Brighton defender brought him down after the shot.
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In the end, this match comes with very little repercussions for the club. Since United have already secured a top four finish, there is not much more to play for. It is possible that United overlooked Brighton just as they did against West Brom. In the future, United must remember that the Premier League is full of talented players, and they can still lose while appearing invincible to the fans.