A Ruben Amorim pirouette and revolving fist-pump greeted Bryan Mbeumo putting Manchester United 3-0 up and told the tale of how precious this third consecutive league victory was.
But the goal came on 61 minutes and still United found themselves clinging on at 3-2 deep into added time before Mbeumo smashed home his second, after the Cameroonian ran on to Kobbie Mainoo’s pass from the centre circle. Almost instantly Anthony Taylor blew for time and “Glory, glory Man United” was blared from the PA.
So Brighton, winners of the three of the last four meetings, motor back to the south coast defeated and Amorim’s unit are initially up to fourth, behind Manchester City on goal difference.
The Portuguese will not be happy at the late near-capitulation but can be content with how Mbuemo’s first strike was the second goalscoring triumph of his tactic of having Luke Shaw move up from left centre-back to harry Georginio Rutter. In the buildup Shaw certainly fouled the No 10, but the video assistant referee was not be interested, and thus United took charge and put Mbeumo in via a cute Benjamin Sesko pass. The Cameroonian’s 20-yard finish went through Lewis Dunk’s legs and beat Bart Verbruggen to the goalkeeper’s near, left side.
