Manchester United Fall to Brighton: Another Blow for Onana and Red Devils' Season
Manchester United faced another crushing defeat, losing 3-1 to Brighton at Old Trafford on January 19, 2025. The match marked yet another disappointing chapter in a season full of struggles for the Red Devils. Brighton, under the guidance of Ruben Amorim, put on a masterclass performance, continuing their remarkable turnaround after a rough patch earlier in the season.
Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh opened the scoring within the first five minutes, setting the tone early. Despite Bruno Fernandes equalizing with a penalty in the 23rd minute, United struggled to gain any real momentum. The equalizer was short-lived as Kaoru Mitoma restored Brighton’s lead in the second half, making it 2-1. The visitors sealed the win with another goal, this time from Georginio Rutter, who capitalized on a catastrophic error by United's goalkeeper, Andre Onana.
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Onana, who joined Manchester United from Inter Milan in the summer for £47 million, has come under heavy scrutiny after his blunder. The Cameroon international’s attempt to gather a simple cross from Ayari went awry, spilling the ball directly into Rutter's path. Rutter wasted no time, tapping the ball into the empty net to put Brighton up 3-1. The mistake highlighted Onana’s recent inconsistency, leading many fans to question his role as United’s number one goalkeeper.
The match didn’t just highlight Onana’s woes, but also United's broader issues. While Amad Diallo and Fernandes showed flashes of quality, the overall performance was lackluster. United's attack was lackadaisical, and their defense was exposed time and time again. The defeat marks their sixth loss in the last nine Premier League matches, leaving them languishing in 13th place in the league standings with just 26 points from 22 games. They now find themselves a mere ten points above the relegation zone, a worrying statistic for a club of Manchester United’s stature.
Brighton, on the other hand, are flying high. This victory marked their third consecutive win, moving them up to ninth in the table, just four points off the top four. With this performance, they are now within striking distance of a European qualification spot—a position that Manchester United can only dream of at the moment. Brighton’s victory at Old Trafford was not just about the scoreline but also about how composed and hungry they looked throughout the match, especially in defense. The Seagulls were determined, shutting down United's attempts at creating chances, while always looking dangerous going forward.
As Manchester United struggles to regain their form, the pressure is mounting on manager Ruben Amorim. His side has failed to put together a cohesive and consistent run of performances, and this loss will surely add to the criticism surrounding his tenure. With important games ahead, including a Europa League clash against Rangers and a Premier League match against Fulham, United must quickly regroup. They cannot afford many more setbacks if they are to avoid further embarrassment this season.
The defeat to Brighton, compounded by Onana’s costly error, leaves Manchester United with more questions than answers. If they are to bounce back, they will need to address both their defensive vulnerabilities and their lack of offensive sharpness. Time is running out for Amorim and his team as they fight to turn their season around.
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