Cristiano Ronaldo’s first goal in seven games eased the pressure on Ralf Rangnick and the general air of gloom that had been threatening to derail his bid to lead Manchester United to a top-four finish.
Bruno Fernandes’s 96th-minute second goal for United gave the scoreline a flattering look as he raced clear of the Brighton defence and finished impeccably.
But until then, it was a close-run – and controversial – affair against the ten men of Brighton who had enjoyed the better of a first half in which they were at full strength.
After a lacklustre first period showing, which was greeted by a smattering of boos from home fans, the game shifted dramatically in the space of three minutes early in the second half.
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After 51 minutes, Yves Bissouma was caught in possession by Scott McTominay and could only steer the ball in the direction of Ronaldo 25 yards from goal.
The veteran made an incisive move forward, easing past Adam Webster before burying an impressive finish from the edge of the Brighton area.
It was the stroke of good fortune Rangnick had been waiting for and more was to follow moments later when Lewis Dunk was caught in possession by Anthony Elanga.
The Brighton defender responded by hauling down the youngster, earning a yellow card from referee Peter Bankes who was immediately surrounded – arguably too aggressively – by protesting United players.
Duly alerted by VAR, Bankes consulted his pitchside monitor and turned yellow to red – a moment that instantly negated a fine first half from the visitors.
In fact, matters could have worsened soon after when Ronaldo’s powerful header was well saved by Robert Sanchez, leaving the Portuguese booting the ground in frustration.
Ronaldo was also presented with a chance by Sanchez’s disastrous 71st-minute clearance but selflessly opted to square for countryman Bruno Fernandes whose poor effort was well saved by the embarrassed keeper.
There were also good late saves to deny Fernandes and Harry Maguire and late concern for United when a spectacular effort from the edge of the area by Jakub Moder struck the crossbar.
But at least a night that started so badly for Rangnick eventually ended in a much-needed victory. With eyes on the recent faltering form of Maguire, Rangnick’s concerns were compounded pre-match when he lost his centre-half partner Raphael Varane in warm-up, with the Frenchman reportedly ill.
Nevertheless, the early exchanges of a potentially tricky game were a reminder that United’s current malaise extends well beyond Maguire. There were some promising moments of attacking flair from the Reds, particularly through Ronaldo and the in-form Jadon Sancho. And the evening might have opened with a United goal after six minutes following a mistake from Adam Webster that allowed Ronaldo to break clear.
The Portuguese back-heeled for Sancho whose shot was well saved by Sanchez before Dunk cleared well from Sancho’s follow-up cross. Brighton had generally enjoyed the better of the first half, thanks largely to United’s carelessness with the ball and alarming habit of turning it over in midfield.
After just four minutes, Pascal Gross played in Moder behind the United defence and, fortunately for United, his shot was directly at a well-positioned David de Gea.
Joel Veltman later freed Gross for a similar opening, with his cross picking out Alexis Mac Allister whose shot was held comfortably by the United keeper. And twice in quick succession late in the first half, Brighton had glorious chances to take the lead as they edged closer to the opening goal.
On 39 minutes, a Veltman cross was met by Moder whose powerful header drew a spectacular diving save from De Gea.
And just seconds later, with the Old Trafford crowd growing increasingly anxious, Moder played in Bissouma, at the end of a nice, flowing move, and his low shot passed just wide of the home goal.
Player ratings
Manchester United
- De Gea – 7
- Dalot – 7
- Lindelof – 6
- Maguire – 7
- Shaw – 7
- Fernandes – 6
- McTominay – 7
- Fred – 6
- Sancho – 7
- Ronaldo – 8
- Elanga – 7
Substitutes:
- Pogba – 5
- Telles – 80
- Rashford – 5
Brighton
- Sanchez – 6
- Veltman – 7
- Dunk – 5
- Webster – 5
- Cucurella – 7
- Bissouma – 7
- Gross – 7
- Mac Allister – 6
- Moder – 6
- Trossard – 5
- Maupay – 6
Substitutes:
- Alzate – 5
- Lamptey – 5
- Welbeck – 6
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/R27X4D1
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