Man United defeats Brighton 2-0, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring the game’s only goal before Bruno Fernandes seals the victory.
RALF RANGNICK expressed his dissatisfaction with Manchester United’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde displays.
Cristiano Ronaldo, on the other hand, provided the right antidote to avert another horror show.
On a night when the veteran could have had a hat-trick, the first half had disappointed, but in the 51st minute, Ronaldo delved deep into the vaults to create one of his classic moments.
Man United appeared to have an advantage when Brighton captain Lewis Dunk was sent off three minutes later, and they weren’t going to give it up this time.
But it’s no longer that simple, and Jakub Molder would hit the crossbar before Danny Welbeck, a former United striker, lifted a free header over the bar in the final minute of the 90 as Brighton came close to stealing a point.
Then, from a swift break, Bruno Fernandes tucked home a second in the sixth minute of added time.
United, who are under pressure at the moment, appeared spooked from the start, with Fred’s wayward ball giving Brighton the game’s first chance after only five minutes.
Nobody knew who the pass was intended for, but Pascal Gross grabbed it and gave it to Moder.
David de Gea was in the right place at the right time to block his shot at the near post.
It was catching because Adam Webster utterly miscontrolled a long punt at the other end, just managing to tip the ball onto Ronaldo who was sprinting back from an offside position.
While Webster was on his way back, Ronaldo sent a brilliant backheel to Jadon Sancho, whose effort was also saved at the near post.
Sancho is regaining the form that made him such a sensation in the Bundesliga, according to Rangnick, and there is a rising threat coming from those quick feet every time he is on the ball.
He was part of a terrific build-up that saw Anthony Elanga rush into the box, but Marc Cucurella’s tackle was wonderfully timed.
Brighton came into the game with a seven-game unbeaten league record under their belts.
They did not appear intimidated by a visit to Old Trafford, as do most tourists nowadays.
United, on the other hand, were all over the place in the back once more.
They were not helped by a late rearrangement, which saw Raphael Varane replaced by Victor Lindelof an hour before the game due to illness.
When Brighton had the finest chance of the half, Lindelof appeared befuddled.
The cross from Joel Veltman was exquisite, and Alexis Mac Allister rose highest to smash a thundering header into the upper left corner, only for David De Gea to paw the ball away with an amazing stop.
It’s a good thing he’s on fire this season, because who knows where United would be if he wasn’t.
United were looking a shambles sooner in the game than usual, and when Yves Bissouma had another effort that went just wide, the boos began to ring out.
They needed to respond quickly after the break, and they did.
Ronaldo’s feet still have a sprinkling of magic in them, as he drastically transformed the tone at Old Trafford with a score just six minutes after the restart.
Scott McTominay deserves credit for pushing up on a hesitant Bissouma and forcing the ball out to Ronaldo.
He dashed inside Webster, his precise little steps leading him there, before unleashing a shot that gave Robert Sanchez no chance.
With a defiant rather than joyful look, he charged to the corner flag in celebration.
His six-game goalless streak, his worst since 2009, is officially over.
After the resumption, Brighton’s situation would quickly deteriorate as they were down to ten men – finally.
United was putting pressure on the opposition and attempting to force errors.
So when Webster squared a ball to Dunk in front of his own box, Fred anticipated and was on him, nicking the ball away only to be brought down by the Brighton captain.
United players immediately swarmed referee Peter Bankes, requesting that he be sent off because he was the last defender.
Bankes displayed a yellow card, feeling without a doubt that Webster was covering, but VAR Jarred Gillett advised him to check the screen at the side of the pitch again.
After a few more views, he came to terms with the fact that Webster would not have made it, and the yellow went to crimson.
Ronaldo had two more chances to put the game out of reach, but one header was tipped over and the other he drove wide.
The Brighton goalkeeper then delivered the ball to him on 71 minutes. He squared for Fernandes, his Portuguese countryman, leaving him with only the goalkeeper to beat.
However, his shot was too close to him, at the perfect height, and Sanchez was able to beat him to the ball.
In the FA Cup clash against Middlesbrough, Fernandes hit the post with a similar gift of a chance at the same Stretford End.
This time he made up for it by sprinting away to grab a second in the last act of the game as United moved back into the top four.
