Brighton give United early season jolt
Lukaku, Pogba strikes go in vain, manager Mourinho fumes at mistakes
BRIGHTON: Manchester United’s troubled start to the season took another unexpected twist as they lost limply 3-2 at Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday with manager Jose Mourinho admitting they were punished for making too many mistakes.
Woeful defending led to two Brighton goals in two first-half minutes as 34-year-old Glenn Murray and Shane Duffy outsmarted United’s 117 million pound ($149.21 million) back four to demonstrate why manager Jose Mourinho had sought to upgrade it.
Eric Bailly was particularly exposed and, having conceded a needless corner that led to Duffy’s first Premier League goal, he blundered in to foul Pascal Gross, who put away the penalty via David de Gea’s leg on the stroke of halftime.
Although Romelu Lukaku had earlier reduced the deficit with a trademark header, United looked ill-equipped to mount a comeback and were often second best to the ball.
Paul Pogba’s injury-time penalty, after Marouane Fellaini was brought down, made the scoreline closer than the match itself with Mourinho admitting that his side deserved to lose.
“We made big mistakes and were punished,” said Mourinho, although he refused to criticise individuals.
“The accumulation of those mistakes, and the fact that they were punished by goals, gave confidence to Brighton and took it away from us.”
Brighton’s Murray said their 3-1 home win over United last season gave them confidence that could spring another surprise.
“It was all about the balls being played in to me, I got quality support,” said the striker.
Mourinho had started with Anthony Martial but the winger, who is reported to be unsettled at the club, made little impact even when Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford were brought on at halftime in an attempt to give United more of a threat up front.
AGUERO HAT-TRICK PROPELS CITY TO 6-1 WIN
MANCHESTER: Sergio Aguero hit a hat-trick as Manchester City’s record-breaking forward inspired a 6-1 demolition of Huddersfield on Sunday.
Pep Guardiola’s champions opened their home campaign with a pre-match display of ticker tape and exploding fireworks and Aguero continued the pyrotechnics on the field.
Aguero, who turned 30 in the close-season, has now scored 14 times in his last eight Premier League games at City’s Etihad Stadium.
The Argentina star -- City’s all-time leading scorer -- joins former Liverpool forward Robbie Fowler on nine Premier League hat-tricks.
Only ex-Newcastle and Blackburn star Alan Shearer has scored more in the competition’s history with 11.
City’s rampant display underlined why they are such strong favourites to retain their title.
Such is City’s strength in depth, Guardiola was able to leave Kyle Walker, Riyad Mahrez and Raheem Sterling on the bench.
Gabriel Jesus and David Silva were both on the scoresheet in Sunday’s win, while a Terence Kongolo own goal added to Huddersfield’s woes, who scored through Jon Gorenc Stankovic.