The hosts appeared to be in control early on, with teenager Shea Lacey netting his first goal for the club after eight minutes. Mason Mount extended that lead just two minutes later, capitalising on a rebound from a Marcus Rashford effort. However, the momentum shifted in first-half stoppage time when Charalampos Kostoulas capitalised on defensive lapses to pull a goal back for the visitors.
Defensive Collapse Seals United's Fate
The second half saw Brighton complete a clinical turnaround. Pascal Gross levelled the scores in the 65th minute, and Maxim De Cuyper secured the winner five minutes later, capitalising on further defensive disarray from the home side. Despite the late introduction of Bruno Fernandes and Matheus Cunha, United were unable to force an equaliser, resulting in the team being booed off the pitch by their own supporters.
This exit marks the second time in nine months that Brighton have eliminated United from a domestic cup competition at Old Trafford. The result is particularly notable as it represents the first time in 50 years that Manchester United have surrendered a two-goal lead at home to lose a match. The defeat follows a controversial 1-0 loss to Manchester City in the Premier League, where officiating errors were later acknowledged by the referees' governing body.
Broader League Cup Results
Elsewhere in the competition, Aston Villa secured a 3-1 victory over Coventry at the CBS Arena, with Tammy Abraham netting twice to help Unai Emery’s side find some form. Everton also progressed to the next round, defeating Wolves 1-0 thanks to a late strike from Charly Alcaraz. Meanwhile, fourth-tier side Fleetwood Town achieved a significant milestone by reaching the fourth round for the first time, overcoming Sheffield United 1-0.
The draw for the last 16 has set up several high-profile fixtures, including a home tie for Fleetwood against Premier League champions Arsenal. Other notable matchups include Liverpool facing Chelsea, while Everton are set to host Newcastle. For Carrick and his United squad, the focus now shifts to Sunday’s Premier League clash against Fulham, where they will look to recover from a campaign that has seen them lose three of their opening six matches across all competitions.
