Seagulls Staged a 3-2 Carabao Cup Miracle in the Manchester United vs Brighton Gameplay at Old Trafford

Hey sports enthusiasts, the EFL Cup third round delivered an absolute thriller on Wednesday, September 16, 2026! The Manchester United vs Brighton clash brought us pure chaos as the Seagulls fought back from a two-goal deficit to win 3-2.

Let’s dive into exactly how Brighton broke Manchester United hearts right in their own backyard.

A Dream Start for the Red Devils in the Manchester United vs Brighton Clash

Manchester United came out firing from the very first whistle. They completely dominated the opening exchanges and punished the Brighton defense early. In just the 8th minute, young talent Shea Lacey opened the scoring after a brilliant setup from Youri Tielemans.

Before Brighton could even catch their breath, United struck again! Mason Mount doubled the lead in the 10th minute, leaving the visitors absolutely stunned. The Red Devils looked like they were cruising to an easy victory, but football is full of surprises. The physical first half saw Brighton’s Chema Andrés pick up a yellow card in the 43rd minute.

The Incredible Comeback: Manchester United vs Brighton Chaos

The second half was a completely different story. The Brighton manager must have given the team talk of a lifetime because they came out with serious fire. Just one minute after the restart (46′), Charalampos Kostoulas pulled a goal back with a clinical assist from Jaouen Hadjam.

Brighton kept pushing relentlessly. In the 65th minute, veteran Pascal Groß found the equalizer, brilliantly assisted by Luka Vušković. The momentum had completely shifted!

Both managers immediately turned to their benches in the 66th minute. United brought on Joshua Zirkzee, Kobbie Mainoo, and Bryan Mbeumo. Brighton answered by introducing Maxime De Cuyper and Diego Gómez.

The Seagulls’ substitutions worked absolute magic. Just three minutes after stepping on the pitch, substitute Maxime De Cuyper smashed home the winning goal in the 69th minute to complete the epic 3-2 turnaround!

Desperate for an equalizer, United threw on Bruno Fernandes and Matheus Cunha. However, the aggressive Seagulls held firm, despite picking up late yellow cards for Yasin Ayari (85′) and the match-winner De Cuyper (91′).

Confirmed Lineups

Here is how both squads lined up for this massive cup tie:

Manchester United Starting XI: Darlow (12) started in goal. The defense featured Mazraoui (3), Heaven (26), Yoro (15), and Dalot (2). Andrey Santos (17) and Tielemans (18) anchored the midfield pivot. Rashford (9), Mount (7), and Lacey (31) provided the attacking support for striker Sesko (30).

Brighton & Hove Albion Starting XI: Steele (23) had a busy night in net. Hadjam (3), Struijk (4), Vušković (44), and Costinha (20) formed the backline Groß (13), Boscagli (21), and Andrés Baixauli (14) battled in midfield. Yalcouyé (35), Kostoulas (19), and O’Riley (33) led the attack.

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