Brighton 0, Manchester United 3 (Carabao Cup 4th Round)
There was no drama as goals by Scott McTominay, Juan Mata, and Paul Pogba put Manchester United past Brighton in the Carabao Cup.
Embed from Getty ImagesLeandro Trossard, who was denied five times by the woodward and once by David De Gea at the weekend found himself frustrated by Dean Henderson as he looked to level the scores after he came on in the second half.
But United simply upped a gear and killed off the Seagulls with late goals by man-of-the-match Mata, who had created McTominay’s opener, and Pogba – after fellow sub Marcus Rashford was brought down just outside the area.
There were nine changes for Brighton – Lewis Dunk and Ben White retained their places while United had ten changes – with Harry Maguire left at home to miss a match for the first time since March 5 while Eric Bailly partnered sole survivor from the weekend Victor Lindelof and Donny van de Beek started on their second trip to Brighton in a matter of days.
And in a rainswept Amex Stadium United almost made the breakthrough after 18 minutes following good work by Dan James with Juan Mata sliding in Odion Ighalo but the Nigerian hit his shot into the side netting.
Alexis Mac Allister’s deft touch during a Brighton build up down United’s right was seized upon by Alireza Jahanbakhsh whose shot was saved low down by Sergio Romero after 26 minutes while Fred’s solid shot was saved by Jason Steele minutes later.
Mac Allister and Jahanbakhsh skied efforts high from the edge of the box but the Seagulls were stunned just before half time when Dan Burn hauled down Juan Mata on the right flank.
Mata put the subsequent free kick into the box where Scott McTominay was played onside by Ben White and had a free header with which to beat Steele from 6 yards and put the Reds into a barely deserved lead at half time.
Fred’s 25 yard free kick was saved by Steele soon after the restart and Brighton, who brought on Neal Maupay and Leandro Trossard in the second half, struggled to craft an equaliser with United taking control in the final quarter of the game.
And Trossard continued his poor run of form in front of a United goal with a shot from 12 yards out that was saved by Dean Henderson who otherwise had little to do in the game.
United responded by bringing on Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford coming on for Ighalo and James after 69 minutes.
And Juan Mata buried a 73rd minute shot with a right footed finish – his 50th United goal – after a clever backheel by van de Beek released him.
Pogba could have sealed the win after arriving to meet Diogo Dalot’s cross with a header two minutes later but he sent his effort wide.
But he made no mistake from a 25 yard free kick with 10 minutes to go which went in off the Brighton wall and the post after Rashford had been brought down.
Perhaps it was a bit galling for the Reds to benefit from a goal off the woodwork after Brighton had been denied five times against United last Saturday.
Dalot’s shot was saved by Steele but a fourth goal for the Reds would have been harsh on the home side.
In the end, however, United were deservedly in the next round and Brighton could only lick their wounds again.
GOALS – Brighton 0, Manchester United 3 (Carabao Cup 4th Round)
Brighton 0, Man Utd 1: 44. Scott McTominay had plenty of time to head home from Juan Mata’s free kick after Ben White played him onside.
Brighton 0, Man Utd 2: 73. Juan Mata buried a 73rd minute shot with a right footed finish – his 50th United goal – after a clever backheel by Donny van de Beek released him in front of goal.
Brighton 0, Man Utd 3: 80. Paul Pogba’s free kick took a slight deflection off the Brighton wall before going in off the post.
MATCH STATS – Brighton 0, Manchester United 3 (Carabao Cup 4th Round)
Brighton: Steele, White, Dunk, Burn, Veltman, Molumby (Sanders 81), Gross, Bernardo, Jahanbakhsh (Maupay 50), Mac Aliister, Gyokeres (Trossard 63)
Brighton Subs not used: Sanchez, Cochrane, Roberts, Jenks
Booked: Burn 43 (hauling down Juan Mata); Veltman 79 (foul on Marcus Rashford)
Man Utd: Henderson, Dalot, Bailly, Lindelof, Williams, McTominay, Fred (Lingard 81), Mata, van de Beek, James (Pogba 69), Ighalo (Rashford 69)
Man Utd subs not used: Grant, Greenwood, Fosu-Mensah, Mengi
Booked: Lindelof 87 (foul on Neal Maupay)
Goals: McTominay 43; Mata 73; Pogba 80
Referee: Graham Scott