Potter’s heroes hit by a late smash and grab
DISASTER: Lewis Dunk scores past his own goalkeeper to make it 1-1
FIVE goals, five Brighton efforts against the woodwork, contentious VAR calls – and TWO final whistles.
The Premier League has a showreel of classics and after this epic encounter and a dramatic 99th-minute last-kick winner from Bruno Fernandes now there’s another to add to that sparkling roll-call.
Brighton boss Graham Potter and star turn Leandro Trossard must have run over a couple of black cats on the way to the stadium. It’s unlikely Potter will ever see his side play better against any top side – and lose.
But after outplaying struggling Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side for long spells, then making at 2-2 with what they thought was the last kick off the match, to get nothing was a sickener.
Potter said: “It was a rollercoaster, a fantastic performance. We did so much well and played with real courage and quality but it’s very painful to lose.
“I’ve spoken to the group and said I’m sorry I can’t make you feel any better.
“The performance was amazing. The quality was one to be proud of and we have to remember that because right now we are very sore.”
If Belgian Trossard plays for another 10 years it’s unlikely he’ll have as many chances.
United might have Paul Pogba and Fernandes at a combined cost of nearly £150million but Trossard led the the way.
The headline moment, though, was the award of a brilliantly converted
Fernandes penalty after 99 minutes.
It came as United desperately tried to react after
Solly March (right with Steven
Alzate) made it 2-2 deep into injury time.
United charged upfield and won a corner but after
Harry Maguire’s header appeared to be cleared referee Chris Kavanagh ended the game. United immediately spotted Neal Maupay – scorer of the game’s first goal from the spot after Fernandes fouled Tariq Lamptey – had handled Maguire’s effort.
Kavanagh confirmed the penalty after watching the pitchside monitor – and Brighton were left with nothing.
They were so dominant they should have been out of sight by the break after hitting the woodwork three times, twice from Trossard and once from Adam Webster.
After a Mason Greenwood goal was ruled out for a Marcus Rashford offside, Brighton deservedly went in front with Maupay’s cheeky Panenka. United levelled when Lewis Dunk turned into his own goal under pressure from Maguire. Straight after the restart Brighton felt aggrieved when Kavanagh consulted his pitchside screen and ruled out a penalty after Aaron Connolly had fell under a Pogba challenge. Then Rashford, who also had a goal chalked out for offside, put United 2-1 ahead.
But Brighton weren’t done. They pounded United’s defence, with March again hitting the post.
In the end it was a United smash-andgrab with a late, late finish 1999 Treble hero Solskjaer appreciated more than most.