Brighton Comeback Dumps Manchester United Out of Carabao Cup
Manchester United crashed out of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday after Brighton & Hove Albion overturned a two-goal deficit to win 3-2 at Old Trafford, piling fresh pressure on manager Michael Carrick.
Brighton turnaround leaves Old Trafford furious
United appeared in control after academy winger Shea Lacey, 19, and Mason Mount put them 2-0 ahead. But Charalampos Kostoulas scored shortly before the interval to give Brighton a route back into the tie.
- Pascal Gross levelled for Brighton in the second half.
- Substitute Maxim De Cuyper struck the winner three minutes later.
- Brighton had made six changes after beating Coventry City 5-0 on Sunday.
- About 900 away supporters made the 500-mile journey to Manchester.
United’s players tried to acknowledge the home crowd after the final whistle but were met by loud boos. Chants questioning the display followed as the squad headed for the tunnel.
Carrick accepted the reaction, saying: “I understand how the supporters feel. We have to take it, and I take ultimate responsibility. What happened late in the second half is on me. We cannot accept that as a group. We will improve, because we have to improve. We want victories, and we want them soon.”
Historic home collapse deepens Carrick concern
The defeat came straight after United’s disputed but poor derby loss against 10-man Manchester City, and one day after 15-year-old prospect JJ Gabriel stated that he wants to leave the club.
Lacey’s early goal had offered a potentially powerful academy message to Gabriel. Instead, United produced a flat second-half showing and allowed Brighton to complete another damaging Old Trafford result.
- United lost at home after holding a two-goal lead for the first time in 50 years.
- It was their first Old Trafford defeat after leading at half-time since May 1984.
- Brighton have won five of their last six visits to Old Trafford.
- They also won there in the FA Cup in January.
- United have now lost four straight domestic cup matches under Ruben Amorim, Darren Fletcher and Carrick.
- The club have not won a domestic cup tie since the February 2025 FA Cup victory over Leicester City.
Carrick, 45, had enjoyed a largely smooth first 11 months after replacing Amorim on an initial temporary basis in January. With only one match per week during the closing months of last season, United won 12 of 17 games, finished third in the Premier League and returned to the Champions League.
That momentum has disappeared quickly. United have won only two of their opening six matches this season and taken four points from four league fixtures.
Hürzeler praises Brighton belief
Brighton boss Fabian Hürzeler said his players had been prepared to believe they could recover despite falling 2-0 behind.
“Belief was a major part of our preparation,” Hürzeler said. “At a stadium like this, you need to carry that belief. Showing it after being two down says a lot about the character of the team.”
Brighton will mark their 125th anniversary when Arsenal visit the Amex Stadium on Saturday. United must instead regroup for Sunday’s trip to Fulham.
What happens next
Carrick has turned his focus immediately to the league meeting with Fulham, who are still without a league win this season but drew at Liverpool in their last outing.
“Sunday is a big match and we have to get ready for it,” Carrick said. “We are out of this competition, so we have to return to winning games. The next game is Sunday, and that is my only focus now.”
The pressure will not ease after the international break, with Tottenham due at Old Trafford before away fixtures against Atlético Madrid and Leeds United. Carrick now faces the first sustained crisis of his reign, with recent United managers Erik ten Hag and Amorim having seen damaging cup results become defining moments of their tenures.
