In a major FA Cup shock, Brighton & Hove Albion ended their long wait for a victory against Manchester United, knocking the Premier League giants out of the competition with a deserved 2-1 win at Old Trafford on Sunday, January 11, 2026.
Seagulls Soar with Early Strike and Welbeck Wonder Goal
The visitors took a dream start, silencing the home crowd in the 12th minute. A dangerous cross from former United man Danny Welbeck found Georginio Rutter, whose powerful header was miraculously cleared off the line by Lisandro Martínez. However, the rebound fell kindly to Brajan Gruda, who made no mistake from close range to give Brighton an early lead.
Brighton's disciplined structure frustrated United for large periods. The decisive second goal arrived in the 64th minute, courtesy of a moment of pure class. This time, Gruda turned provider, slipping a perfect through ball to Danny Welbeck. The experienced striker took a touch inside the box before unleashing an unstoppable rocket into the top corner, celebrating a poignant goal against his old club.
Late Consolation and Red Card Seal United's Fate
Playing under interim manager Darren Fletcher following the recent dismissal of Ruben Amorim, Manchester United found a late lifeline. In the 85th minute, Benjamin Sesko rose highest to meet a Bruno Fernandes corner and powered a header home, setting up a tense finale.
Any hopes of a dramatic comeback were extinguished just minutes later. Substitute Shea Lacey received a straight red card in the 89th minute, reducing United to ten men. Despite some late pressure, the Seagulls held firm to secure a historic victory, their first-ever FA Cup win over Manchester United.
Defeat Piles Misery on Fragile Manchester United
The loss represents a new low in a turbulent season for the Red Devils. This marks the first time since the 1981-82 season that the club has been eliminated from both domestic cup competitions at the first hurdle. The result comes just days after the sacking of manager Ruben Amorim on January 5, following a difficult 14-month tenure.
Interim boss Darren Fletcher described his squad as "fragile" in post-match comments, a sentiment echoed by the loud boos that rang around Old Trafford at full-time. The future of the club's managerial position remains deeply uncertain.
For Brighton, this confident performance and progression to the FA Cup fourth round provides a massive boost. Manchester United, meanwhile, are left to pick up the pieces and focus on a challenging Premier League campaign, their crisis showing no signs of abating.
