He wasted all the ball I gave him today,But the last one He missed was the one that pained me the most and I’m not happy with Him”, Bruno Fernandez reveals One United that wasted their golden chances today – Not Dialo and not Zirkzee.

Manchester United suffered a heartbreaking defeat at the hands of Brighton, with their hopes of salvaging at least a point dashed in the final moments of the match. The clash at the Amex Stadium ended in a dramatic 2-1 victory for Brighton, as they scored a decisive goal in the 95th minute, leaving United to lament what might have been a different result. This outcome highlights the ongoing offensive struggles under Erik ten Hag, despite his tactical commitment to a false 9 or split striker system.

In the first half, Manchester United managed to keep the game balanced, with neither team clearly dominating in possession or creating significant chances. However, Brighton managed to break the deadlock when Danny Welbeck, a former Manchester United player, skillfully maneuvered through the defense. Welbeck’s movement allowed him to convert a close-range opportunity, giving Brighton a 1-0 lead at halftime. This goal exposed United’s defensive frailties, particularly against a well-organized side.

Manchester United responded with determination in the second half. Amad Diallo capitalized on a deflected ball to score the equalizer, injecting hope and energy into the team. The momentum seemed to be shifting in United’s favor, and they nearly took the lead when Alejandro Garnacho found the back of the net. However, this potential game-changer was ruled out due to an offside decision involving Joshua Zirkzee, who inadvertently affected the play. This moment of misfortune encapsulated United’s night—effort met with bad luck.

As the match appeared to be heading for a draw, Brighton delivered a decisive blow. In the final moments of injury time, Joao Pedro found himself unmarked in Manchester United’s penalty area and headed the ball into the net, securing all three points for Brighton. The late goal not only confirmed United’s defeat but also underscored their ongoing struggles with defensive focus and closing out matches effectively.

### Player Performances:

– **Andre Onana – 7:** The goalkeeper showed notable improvement in his distribution, including a key long pass to Diogo Dalot that led to a scoring opportunity. Despite this, Onana was powerless to stop either of Brighton’s goals, with little he could do to prevent them.

– **Diogo Dalot – 7.5:** Dalot delivered a strong performance, particularly in his unfamiliar role at left-back. He displayed versatility by contributing both defensively, with a critical goalline clearance, and offensively, by delivering a dangerous cross that nearly resulted in a goal.

– **Matthijs de Ligt – 6.5:** De Ligt was a steady presence throughout most of the game but was substituted for Harry Maguire before Brighton’s late winner. His performance was reliable, though he didn’t significantly impact the match’s outcome.

– **Scott McTominay – 6.5:** Substituted in for Bruno Fernandes, McTominay was given more freedom to play in advanced positions. While he showed intent and tried to influence the game, his efforts ultimately fell short of altering the result.

– **Antony – 6:** Introduced late in the match, Antony had minimal time to make a difference, and his impact was limited due to his brief appearance.

### Analysis:

This disappointing loss highlights Manchester United’s persistent issues in their attacking strategy. Although they showed more promise in the second half, the team struggled to create and capitalize on goal-scoring opportunities. The reliance on a false 9 system, a hallmark of Erik ten Hag’s tactics, failed to deliver the desired outcomes, raising concerns about its effectiveness in the Premier League. The match against Brighton clearly indicates that United must refine their offensive strategy to compete at the highest level and turn possession and pressure into goals.

Going forward, United must focus on enhancing their creativity and precision in the final third, areas that have consistently let them down. The late collapse in this match will likely lead to introspection within the squad and coaching staff as they work to address these weaknesses and avoid similar outcomes in future games. Although the season is still young, the lessons from this match must be learned if United is to bounce back and contend for top honors.