Ronaldo’s stunner and Dunk’s red card sinks Seagulls after impressive start
Ronaldo, who was without a goal in 2022, found the bottom corner six minutes into the second half after Yves Bissouma gifted the ball to Scott McTominay.
Things went from bad to worse for Albion when captain Lewis Dunk saw red for bringing down Anthony Elanga. The centre-half was initially given a yellow card but VAR intervened and told the referee to check the pitchside monitor.
The reversal of the decision was controversial, as Adam Webster looked set to catch up with Elanga, whose first touch was heavy.
The hosts missed a host of chances to put the game beyond Brighton but Fernandes made sure of the points deep into injury time to give Ralf Rangnick’s side their first win in three league games.
Brighton dominated the first half against a Manchester United side, which looked devoid of confidence and ideas.
Marc Cucurella and Pascal Gross were heavily involved as Brighton probed and controlled possession with some patient build-up play.
Former Liverpool defender Mark Lawrenson, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, said Brighton ‘just look a better side’, adding: “Man Utd at the moment look very, very ordinary.”
If not for David De Gea’s heroics, Graham Potter’s side would have been ahead at half-time, with Jakub Moder twice going close.
The Polish International had the best chance of the first half when he was found unmarked by Joel Veltman’s inch-perfect cross. The header was spot on but a diving De Gea somehow managed to keep it out.
Manchester United looked occasionally looked a threat on the break and their best chance came when Jadon Sancho shot straight at the keeper after being found by Cristiano Ronaldo’s smart back-heel.
Football is, of course, a game of two halves and Man United could only improve after the break.
They did just that and made Brighton pay for their missed chances.
The red card was a further hammer blow and Graham Potter reacted by bringing on the dangerous Tariq Lamptey and Steve Alzate.
It was always going to be difficult for Albion and they had Robert Sanchez to thank for not falling further behind.
The Spanish keeper starred as Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes missed gilt-edged opportunities to make sure of the points and it nearly proved costly when
Moder was desperately unlucky not to score
Sending off changed the dynamic of the match
third substitute Danny Welbeck missed a great headed chance as the game approached injury time.
Albion continued to press for a leveller but they were hit on the counter attack deep into injury-time. Fernandes went alone and slotted past Sanchez to seal the points.
Potter said: “We are frustrated, we had large periods of the game but we did not start the second half well, gave the ball away and they punished us. The sending off changes the dynamic of the game, frustrated with that. We had to survive with 10 men at Old Trafford. We hit the bar, Danny Welbeck had a chance but proud of the players.
“In football if you don’t score and they do, you don’t deserve anything. Our first half was good, if it was 11 v 11 it would have been a more interesting second half and we were always in the game. David De Gea pulled off a good save off Jakub Moder in the first half so we had our moments. The performance was good but we did not score and they did, with 10 men for 40 minutes.” On Dunk’s red card, he added: “It was a yellow card to start with, when I looked at it back it does not look a clear and obvious error. That is my feeling. Adam Webster is on the cover and the referee gave a yellow card live. I could have taken it if it was a red card, I don’t understand why the VAR is getting involved. “We are disappointed.”