Manchester United, currently without a permanent manager, completed a double of domestic cup defeats after their former striker Danny Welbeck contributed to their FA Cup elimination at Old Trafford.
In front of his former manager Sir Alex Ferguson and his former teammate Darren Fletcher, who is now in charge of the club on an interim basis, Welbeck unleashed a powerful shot that nestled into the back of the net, giving Brighton their second goal and sending them into the fourth round. This was the 35-year-old’s eighth goal against United and his sixth as a visitor to the stadium that was once his home.
Welbeck’s thunderous strike into the roof of the net doubled the lead that Bryan Groda had given Brighton in the first half, although Benjamin Sissoko’s header five minutes from time gave the home side hope.
Brighton’s victory was their first ever win against Manchester United in the FA Cup, ending a run of 13 previous encounters in which the Red Devils had triumphed.
For Manchester United, this defeat comes on the heels of their humiliating Carabao Cup second-round exit at the hands of Grimsby Town (League Two), meaning they have been knocked out of both domestic cup competitions in the first possible round for the first time since the 1981-82 season.
Manchester United are expected to announce their new interim manager in the coming hours, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer the frontrunner to succeed Ruben Amorim until the end of the season.
