Archive · 17 Sep 2026
Manchester United Collapse Against Brighton Deepens Early-Season Struggles
Manchester United played Brighton in a League Cup match at Old Trafford.
United scored twice early and led 2-0.
Brighton scored before halftime to reduce the gap.
Brighton then scored twice more in the second half.
Brighton won the game 3-2 and advanced to the last 16.
United fans booed after the final whistle.
Manager Michael Carrick said he was responsible for the poor late performance.
The loss came after United had also recently lost to Manchester City.
United are now struggling in both league and cup competitions.
Manchester United lost 3-2 to Brighton & Hove Albion in the League Cup third round.
United led 2-0 after early goals from Shea Lacey and Mason Mount.
Brighton completed its comeback through goals by Charalampos Kostoulas, Pascal Gross and Maxim De Cuyper.
The defeat was United’s first home loss after a two-goal lead since Tottenham Hotspur won by the same score in September 1976.
Manager Michael Carrick accepted responsibility as United suffered a third successive domestic cup exit.
- Who
- Manchester United and Brighton & Hove Albion, managed by Michael Carrick for United.
- What
- Brighton defeated Manchester United 3-2 after United surrendered a two-goal lead in the League Cup third round.
- When
- Wednesday; the articles do not provide a calendar date.
- Where
- Old Trafford in Manchester.
- Why
- Brighton advanced after overturning United’s 2-0 advantage, while Carrick attributed United’s late second-half performance to himself.
Manchester United’s Explanation
Brighton’s Achievement
Reason for the result
Manchester United’s Explanation
Michael Carrick said United could not accept the performance and took responsibility for the team’s display toward the end of the second half.
Brighton’s Achievement
Brighton overturned a 2-0 deficit, scored three goals and progressed to the League Cup last 16.
Meaning of the comeback
Manchester United’s Explanation
The defeat was presented as another sign of United’s poor early-season form and continuing domestic cup struggles.
Brighton’s Achievement
The result marked a notable away victory for Brighton at Old Trafford after recovering from United’s early advantage.
- Result
- Manchester United 2-3 Brighton & Hove Albion
- Competition
- League Cup third round
- Venue
- Old Trafford
- United scorers
- Shea Lacey and Mason Mount
- Brighton scorers
- Charalampos Kostoulas, Pascal Gross and Maxim De Cuyper
- Historical note
- United had not previously lost at home after leading by two goals since September 1976
- Cup record
- United have suffered three successive domestic cup exits