Manchester United vs Brighton LIVE: Premier League result and final score after Ronaldo ends goal drought
Manchester United 2-0 Brighton: Follow live reaction as Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes sealed an important win for Ralf Rangnick
Follow live reaction from the Premier League as Manchester United returned to winning ways and Cristiano Ronaldo ended his scoring drought against 10-man Brighton.
Jadon Sancho had the first chance of the match after being slipped in by Ronaldo’s back-heel, only to be denied by Robert Sanchez’s outstretched arm.
It was Brighton who had the better of the opening half, however, with David de Gea producing a stunning stop to deny Jakub Moder’s header for the impressive visitors.
But the match turned shortly after the restart and in the space of 90 seconds, as Ronaldo fired a brilliant finish past Sanchez to open the scoring and Lewis Dunk was sent off for bringing down Anthony Elanga.
Bruno Fernandes added a second to seal the win in stoppage time. The result moves Ralf Rangnick’s side ahead of West Ham and back into the Premier League’s top four, while ending a run of three matches without a win in all competitions.
Follow live reaction below:
Cristiano Ronaldo ends barren spell as Man Utd labour to victory over Brighton
Cristiano Ronaldo ended his six-game scoreless streak to help Manchester United on their way to a much-needed 2-0 win against 10-man Brighton.
Having blown half-time leads to draw 1-1 in their last three matches, interim boss Ralf Rangnick called for his Jekyll and Hyde side to show their better side in Tuesday evening’s rearranged Premier League encounter.
Those calls fell on deaf ears in the first half as incoherent United were dominated by Brighton, only for a Ronaldo strike and Lewis Dunk red card early in the second half to change the course of the evening.
Cristiano Ronaldo ends barren spell as Man Utd labour to victory over Brighton
The Portuguese ended his six-game scoreless streak as the Red Devils beat 10-man Brighton 2-0.
Man Utd 2 - 0 Brighton
Manchester United get back to winning ways.
Man Utd 2 - 0 Brighton
Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo has now scored against 168 different opponents in his career for club and country, while he’s also scored at least once in each of the last 21 calendar years stretching back to 2002.
Man Utd 2 - 0 Brighton
That victory is enough to send Manchester United back into the top four as they move two points clear of West Ham in fifth and four clear of Arsenal in sixth. Arsenal however have three games in hand on the Red Devils.
Man Utd 2 - 0 Brighton
Manchester United’s Portuguese stars both found the back of the net as they managed to temper an impressive performance from Brighton at Old Trafford.
Cristiano Ronaldo ended his goal drought with a lovely solo effort, cutting in from the left past Adam Webster before guiding his effort into the bottom corner.
Bruno Fernandes then sealed the points in added time with a pacey counterattack and equally fine finish that left Robert Sanchez on the floor watching the ball hit the back of his own net.
Full-time: Man Utd 2 - 0 Brighton
90+7 mins: Bruno Fernandes seals a much needed win for Manchester United over 10-man Brighton. Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring in the second half with a well worked individual goal but Lewis Dunk’s sending off was probably the game changing moment.
Brighton were unable to put any pressure back on United until the closing minutes when the threw men up the pitch and allowed space in behind for Fernandes’ counterattack. By then the game was all but over and Fernandes made sure it stayed that way.
GOAL! Man Utd 2 - 0 Brighton (Fernandes, 90+7)⚽️
90+7 mins: A wave of relief erupts around Old Trafford. Bruno Fernandes wins a free kick in his own half and Paul Pogba takes it quickly to send the Portuguese flying up the pitch on the counter. He carries the ball into the box, dummies a pass to Ronaldo to sit down the goalkeeper and then guides it into the open goal! Game over.
Man Utd 1 - 0 Brighton
90+3 mins: You can feel the nerves around Old Trafford. Brighton are controlling the ball despite having 10-men. The home side are dropping off and protecting their own penalty area.
Scott McTominay fouls Yves Bissouma and gives Brighton the chance to flick a free kick into the box. When it does come in Harry Maguire confidently wins it in the air and heads the ball clear.
Man Utd 1 - 0 Brighton
90 mins: Chance! Man Utd can’t get the ball off Brighton and they work it nicely into the opposition’s final third. Tariq Lamptey curls a great cross into the box and picks out substitute Danny Welback. He leaps in front of Victor Lindelof, wins the header but sends it over the crossbar!
Six minutes of added time to play here.
Man Utd 1 - 0 Brighton
87 mins: Alexis Mac Allister halts a Manchester United counterattack by bringing down Marcus Rashford. The free kick sees the home side play the ball down the right wing to Diogo Dalot who wins a corner after Yves Bissouma knocks it out of play.
Brighton do well to defend the corner again but they’re under pressure here. United are knocking on the door.
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