Manchester United suffered a painful 3-2 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, crashing out of the EFL Cup in the third round after surrendering an early two-goal advantage.
The Red Devils appeared to be in complete control during the opening stages of the match after teenage forward Shea Lacey and Mason Mount scored within the first 10 minutes. However, Brighton staged a remarkable comeback, scoring three goals to turn the game around and send Manchester United out of the competition.
Charalampos Kostoulas, Pascal Groß and Maxim De Cuyper were the scorers for Brighton, while Lacey and Mount found the net for Manchester United.
Shea Lacey and Mason Mount Give Manchester United a Fast Start
Manchester United started the match with attacking intent and quickly put Brighton under pressure at Old Trafford.
The home side opened the scoring in the eighth minute through young attacker Shea Lacey. The teenager showed confidence by moving past two Brighton defenders before producing a composed finish past goalkeeper Jason Steele.
Lacey’s goal gave Manchester United an early advantage and created a positive atmosphere inside the stadium. The hosts then doubled their lead shortly afterwards through Mason Mount.
Mount reacted quickly after Marcus Rashford’s effort was saved by Steele. The midfielder followed up to score and put Manchester United 2-0 ahead before 10 minutes had been played.
With two goals scored in the opening stages, United looked set to build on their strong start. However, Brighton gradually recovered and began to create opportunities of their own.
Brighton Reduce the Deficit Before Half-Time
Brighton refused to surrender despite conceding twice in the opening 10 minutes. The visitors slowly improved their performance and began to expose weaknesses in Manchester United’s defence.
In first-half stoppage time, Charalampos Kostoulas pulled one goal back for Brighton. The striker beat Manchester United goalkeeper Karl Darlow to a long ball before finishing to make the score 2-1.
The goal came at a crucial moment for Brighton because it reduced Manchester United’s advantage just before the interval. It also gave the visitors renewed confidence heading into the second half.
Manchester United had started the match strongly, but Brighton’s late first-half goal changed the momentum of the contest.
Pascal Groß Brings Brighton Level
Brighton continued to apply pressure after the restart, while Manchester United struggled to regain control of the match.
The visitors equalised in the 65th minute through experienced midfielder Pascal Groß. The German reacted inside the penalty area and finished from close range after Benjamin Šeško headed the ball back into a dangerous position.
Groß’s goal made the score 2-2 and increased the pressure on Manchester United. The home team had failed to maintain the intensity that helped them score twice early in the game.
Brighton grew in confidence as the second half progressed, while United found it difficult to create clear chances in front of goal.
Maxim De Cuyper Completes Brighton’s Comeback
Brighton completed their comeback only four minutes after Groß’s equaliser.
Substitute Maxim De Cuyper scored in the 69th minute to put Brighton 3-2 ahead. The move began with a strong run from Diego Gómez, who advanced forward before delivering a cross into the penalty area.
De Cuyper was in the right position to finish from close range, sending the Brighton players and travelling supporters into celebration.
Manchester United had gone from leading 2-0 to trailing 3-2 in less than an hour. The turnaround left the home supporters frustrated as Brighton took control of the match.
Manchester United Fail to Find an Equaliser
After falling behind, Manchester United attempted to find a way back into the game. Manager Michael Carrick introduced Bruno Fernandes as an emergency substitute as the home side searched for an equalising goal.
Marcus Rashford had an important opportunity to level the score when he was played through on goal. However, his effort was saved by Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele.
Brighton also had chances to extend their lead in the closing stages. A late effort from Kostoulas was cleared off the line by Leny Yoro, while Darlow made a save to deny another Brighton opportunity.
Despite their efforts, Manchester United could not find a fourth goal of the match, and Brighton held on to secure a memorable 3-2 victory.
Manchester United Suffer Historic Home Collapse
The defeat represented a significant setback for Manchester United. According to match reports, it was the first time in 50 years that the club had lost at Old Trafford after taking a 2-0 lead.
Manchester United had previously won 143 of their 145 matches in which they established a two-goal advantage, making the collapse against Brighton particularly notable.
The result also means that United have exited the EFL Cup at the first hurdle for the second consecutive season. The early elimination removes one of the club’s opportunities to compete for domestic silverware.
The defeat came shortly after Manchester United’s loss to Manchester City in the Premier League, increasing the pressure surrounding the team’s recent performances.
Michael Carrick Accepts Responsibility
Following the match, Manchester United manager Michael Carrick accepted responsibility for the team’s poor second-half performance.
Carrick acknowledged that the team’s display after the break was not good enough and stated that Manchester United needed to improve. He also recognised the frustration of the supporters following the disappointing result.
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The manager will now be expected to help the team recover quickly as Manchester United prepare for their next fixture. The club’s performance in the coming matches will be closely watched after the disappointing cup exit.
Brighton Advance After Impressive Comeback
Brighton’s victory was built on their ability to remain focused after conceding two early goals. Instead of allowing Manchester United to control the match, the visitors continued to follow their game plan and took advantage of defensive mistakes.
Goals from Kostoulas, Groß and De Cuyper completed a comeback that will be remembered as one of Brighton’s notable results at Old Trafford.
Manchester United, meanwhile, must address their defensive problems and their inability to maintain control after taking the lead. The Red Devils will now turn their attention to the Premier League, having been eliminated from the EFL Cup.
Final Result
Manchester United 2-3 Brighton & Hove Albion
- Manchester United: Shea Lacey 8’, Mason Mount 10’
- Brighton: Charalampos Kostoulas 45+1’, Pascal Groß 65’, Maxim De Cuyper 69’
- Competition: EFL Cup, Third Round
- Venue: Old Trafford
- Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026
