Pedro snatches dramatic stoppage time winner as Brighton beat Man Utd

Brighton continued their excellent run of form against Manchester United under new manager Fabian Hurzeler as João Pedro rose to head a late winner in a 2-1 victory over the visitors at the rain-soaked Amex.

With five minutes of seven minutes played in added time, the home forward arrived unmarked in the United box to head beyond goalkeeper Andre Onana from Simon Adingra’s pinpoint cross.

Danny Welbeck had given Brighton the lead with a tap-in finish on 32 minutes for his 100th competitive senior goal before a deflected drive by Amad Diallo levelled for Erik ten Hag’s side on the hour-mark.

A draw was perhaps a fair result, but United will rue an offside flag going up against Joshua Zirkzee with 20 minutes left when fellow substitute Alejandro Garnacho’s finish hit off his knee on its way into the net.

While Brighton move onto six points after their 3-0 win at Everton last weekend, United will be left to rue the defensive mistakes them saw them slump to a fifth defeat in six matches against the high-flying Seagulls.

It was such a tight call when Garnacho finished off a breathtaking counter attack from the Bruno Fernandes cross, but the problem was Zirkzee’s momentum taking him towards the goal as he himself tried frantically to convert the Bruno cross.

VAR showed he was inches away from being in the goal when the ball crossed the line. Unfortunately his knee was on the line. Rules are rules, and a certain United second goal and possible winner was suddenly swept away in the Brighton rain.

The home side made good on a massive stroke of good fortune by converting a winner they barely deserved from a match that seemed destined for a draw.

The Brazilian forward carried a threat all day in the gloomy conditions, and it was perhaps fitting that he was the player to settle the match in Brighton’s favour with the left side of United’s defence conking out deep in added time.

Brighton: Steele 7, Hinselwood 7, Dunk 7, Van Hecke 7, Veltman 7, Gilmour 6, Milner 7, Mitoma 7, Joao Pedro 8, Minteh 7, Welbeck 7 Subs: Ensico 6, Rutter 6, Baleba 6, Adingra 7, Ayari 6

Manchester United: Onana 6, Dalot 7, Martinez 6, Maguire 6, Mazraoui 6, Mainoo 6, Casemiro 6, Rashford 6, Mount 6, Amad 7, Fernandes 7 Subs: De Ligt 6, Zirkzee 6, Garnacho 6, Antony 6, McTominay 6

32′ GOAL! (WELBECK) BRIGHTON 1-0 MAN UTD Poor defending by United as Welbeck arrives to tap home from close-range after Mitoma had knocked the cross from João Pedro back across the face of goal. And Brighton have the lead.

58′ BRIGHTON HIT THE BAR THIS TIME! Minteh is on point with the deliveries out wide in the second half as the free-kick is headed goalwards by Welbeck, but comes back off the bar with Onana rooted to his spot.

60′ GOAL! BRIGHTON 1-1 MAN UNITED (DIALLO) And just like that the visitors are level as Diallo beats the offside trap, races towards goal before drilling a shot at goal. Comes off Van Hecke as he slid in and the ball beats Steele. It is all square at the Amex.

70′ UNITED DENIED A CERTAIN SECOND GOAL! Would you believe this! A brilliant break by United as Garnacho converts from the Fernandes ball across the face of goal, but it comes off the knee of Zirkzee coming in on the line. Was heading in, but it won’t count. It remains 1-1.

90+5′ GOAL! (JOAO) PEDRO) BRIGHTON 2-1 MAN UTD João Pedro arrives at the back post in five of seven minutes added to nod into the net from the Simon Adingra cross. United all over the place at the back. Looked like 1-1, but Brighton heading for another win over United.