Brighton & Hove Albion maintained their flawless start to the Premier League by securing a 2-1 victory over Manchester United on Saturday, with João Pedro delivering the decisive goal in the fifth minute of added time.
This win marked a triumphant home debut for new manager Fabian Huerzeler.
Brighton’s forward Danny Welbeck opened the scoring against his former club, but United found an equalizer in the second half through Amad, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.
The match appeared to be heading for a draw until Brighton’s relentless pressure paid off.
In the closing moments, Simon Adingra managed to slip past United’s defense, lofting a ball into the box where an unmarked Pedro was waiting. Pedro headed it in to secure Brighton’s second consecutive win of the season.
“First I’m very happy for the win. I think this goal at the end shows how much we wanted to win the game, first game at home against a big team,” Pedro remarked. “I cannot feel better than today. I think the team did well.”
Huerzeler, 31, has guided Brighton to back-to-back victories, keeping them provisionally at the top of the table after two matches.
United had an early chance to open the scoring 10 minutes in, with Diogo Dalot delivering a cross to the far post, but Amad was unable to finish with a volley.
Brighton eventually broke the deadlock when Kaoru Mitoma sent a cross from the left flank that pierced United’s defense, landing in the six-yard box where Welbeck capitalized, netting his second goal of the season.
This goal marked Welbeck’s 100th in club football and his sixth against United, the club where he developed as a player and won the Premier League title in the 2012-13 season.
Marcus Rashford quickly responded, finding the back of the net after a save from Brighton’s keeper Jason Steele, but his celebration was cut short as the linesman flagged for offside.
Brighton nearly extended their lead early in the second half when James Milner, set up by Pedro, saw his shot cleared off the line by Dalot.
Amad brought United level at the hour mark, breaking free on goal and cutting inside his marker before taking a shot that deflected off Steele and into the net.
United had a golden opportunity to complete the comeback in the 69th minute with a sweeping move that sliced through Brighton’s defense, leading to an Alejandro Garnacho shot seemingly destined for the net.
However, Joshua Zirkzee, sliding in for a cross that never came, inadvertently redirected the ball from an offside position, leading to the goal being disallowed after a VAR review.
