Bryan Mbeumo double helps Manchester United make it three wins in a row
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Manchester United's Bryan Mbeumo (centre) celebrates scoring his team's fourth goal against Brighton.
PHOTO: EPA
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- Man United, under Ruben Amorim, secured a 4-2 victory against Brighton, marking their third consecutive Premier League win.
- Goals from Cunha, Casemiro and a brace from Mbeumo put United in control, though Brighton fought back with goals from Welbeck and Kostoulas.
- Mbeumo stated, "I enjoy it a lot here... I came here to a big club, and we want to fight for the best places.”
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MANCHESTER, England - Manchester United's improvement under coach Ruben Amorim continued as Matheus Cunha, Casemiro and two goals from Bryan Mbeumo secured a 4-2 victory over Brighton and Hove Albion on Oct 25, their third successive Premier League win.
Looking to build on last weekend’s first victory at Liverpool since 2016, Cunha arrowed home a sublime 24th-minute strike into the bottom corner, the Brazilian’s first goal for United.
There was fortune about the second from Casemiro 10 minutes later, his shot taking a huge deflection before finding the net, but Mbeumo’s well-taken third just after the hour mark put the hosts in complete command.
Danny Welbeck’s sublime free kick against his former club pulled one back for Brighton, before Charalampos Kostoulas’s header in stoppage time ensured a nervy finish at Old Trafford.
With Brighton committing everyone forward in search of the equaliser, Mbeumo fired a fine strike into the roof of the net to lift United to fourth in the standings. Brighton stayed 12th.
Manchester United striker Matheus Cunha (centre) scores the opening goal of the match.
PHOTO: AFP
“I enjoy it a lot here,” Mbeumo told Sky Sports. “It hasn’t been easy at the start. It’s a new environment, a new expectation, but I think with the link up with the team, everything is going the right way.
“The work we put in, the togetherness we give on the pitch is key. I like the challenges, I came here to a big club, and we want to fight for the best places.”
Big test for United
The visit of Brighton provided a big test for an improving United, given that since start of 2021-22 season, no team has won more league games against United than their opponents.
Victory at Anfield was the first time Amorim had achieved back-to-back league wins since taking charge 11 months ago, but the United manager insisted the revival would be undone if they slipped to another loss to Brighton.
Welbeck forced a fine save from United goalkeeper Senne Lammens early on as Brighton started brightly, but Cunha’s pinpoint finish settled home nerves. Since the start of last season, Cunha has scored more goals from outside the box than any other Premier League player in all competitions.
Casemiro’s deflected strike deservedly put a dominant United further ahead, with more chances coming and going to extend the hosts’ lead before the break.
Mbeumo followed up his goal at Liverpool with the third to put United into a seemingly unassailable position.
Casemiro scores Manchester United’s second goal of the match against Brighton.
PHOTO: AFP
Proof they are far from the finished article yet came, however, as mistakes crept in and Welbeck started the Brighton comeback.
United appeared on the ropes when Kostoulas pounced, but Mbeumo made sure of the three points in style, a third United league win in a row for the first time August 2024.
“We put ourselves in a really difficult position,” Welbeck said.
“We have a great group. We got two goals and were closing to maybe getting a third. It didn’t happen but it is a good sign we showed character.” REUTERS
