Man United 1-2 Brighton: Red Devils Complete Unwanted Cup Double, Crash Out of FA Cup

Manchester United’s season lurched further into crisis as they were dumped out of the FA Cup by Brighton at Old Trafford, completing an unwanted domestic cup double after their earlier EFL Cup humiliation at Grimsby.

With Darren Fletcher in interim charge and Sir Alex Ferguson watching from the stands, United were undone by a familiar face. Former striker Danny Welbeck struck Brighton’s second goal with a thunderous finish, his eighth career strike against his old club and sixth at Old Trafford, sealing a famous victory for the visitors.

Brighton had taken the lead through Brajan Gruda’s first-half opener, before Welbeck’s strike doubled the advantage. United briefly rallied when Benjamin Sesko headed home five minutes from time, but hopes of a comeback were dashed when 18-year-old substitute Shea Lacey was sent off in the final minute.

Brighton held firm to claim their first-ever FA Cup win over United at the seventh attempt.

For United, the defeat compounds a miserable campaign. It is the first time since the 1981/82 season that the club has exited both domestic cups at the earliest possible stage.

Fletcher’s short stint as caretaker has yielded only a draw against Burnley and this damaging defeat, leaving United with just one win in their last seven matches.

The club remains managerless following Ruben Amorim’s departure, with a decision on his replacement expected within 48 hours.