Mbeumo's 90th-Minute Dagger Ends Brighton's Comeback Dream

Incontournable Score Futmetrix: 88/100. Six goals, eight saves, and a substitute's late strike transform a comfortable United lead into a breathless finale.

When Substitutes Reshape a Scoreline

Old Trafford descended into controlled chaos on October 25th. Manchester United built a fortress early—Matheus Cunha opened the scoring at 24 minutes off Casemiro's assist, then the Brazilian midfielder doubled the lead a decade later. By the 61st minute, Bryan Mbeumo had made it 3-0. The Balance seemed tilted decisively toward United's favor.

Then the script flipped. Intensity surged when substitutes entered the fray. Brighton's C. Kostoulas, introduced at 79 minutes, scored immediately. J. Milner's introduction at 59 minutes unlocked creativity—his assist at 90 minutes pulled Brighton within one. Suddenly, a rout became a contest. A combined 30 shots (14 on target) and eight saves between the keepers transformed what looked like a statement victory into a white-knuckle affair.

The climax arrived in injury time. Mbeumo, who had already scored twice, delivered the knockout blow at the 90th-minute mark, assisted by A. Heaven. It was the exclamation point on a performance that embodied the unpredictability of modern Premier League football—dominance interrupted by substitute-fueled resistance, then reasserted through clinical finishing.

The Stakes favored United's push toward European qualification (sixth place, 16 points). Brighton, languishing at 13th with just 12 points, needed a spark. They found it in the second half, but couldn't sustain it. United's possession deficit (44% vs. Brighton's 56%) masked their clinical edge: 9 shots on target to Brighton's 5, and a 1.29 xG to 1.12.

This wasn't a masterclass. It was a reminder that leads evaporate when bench players find their rhythm and attacking sides maintain pressure. For United, three points despite the scare. For Brighton, a lesson in how momentum shifts can't overcome the final scoreline.