Amorim does it again! Mbeumo and Cunha light up Old Trafford
Amorim and his boys have done it again. He has proved that the win against Liverpool was not just a fluke. Manchester United dominated the match throughout 90+8 minutes. They outperformed Brighton in multiple departments.
Brighton looked lost for almost 70 percent of the match. They could not convert chances and hold possession. Amorim tactically outplayed them completely.
Timeline
- 24’ GOAL! Cunha (Manchester United) – A smooth link-up play from Bruno Fernandes to Casemiro, who threads the ball perfectly to Matheus Cunha. The Brazilian shifts it to his right and curls it into the bottom-right corner for his first United goal.
- 34’ GOAL! Casemiro (Manchester United) – Casemiro wins the ball in midfield and unleashes a long-range drive that takes a heavy deflection off Yasin Ayari, wrong-footing Verbruggen and finding the net to double United’s lead.
- 61’ GOAL! Mbeumo (Manchester United) – A quick counter sees Benjamin Šeško’s shot parried by Verbruggen, but Mbeumo collects the loose ball, cuts inside, and fires between Van Hecke and Dunk into the far corner to make it 3–0.
- 74’ GOAL! Welbeck (Brighton) – The former United striker steps up for a free-kick just outside the box and bends it past Senne Lammens into the top corner, giving Brighton hope at 3–1.
- 90+2’ GOAL! Kostoulas (Brighton) – Substitute Charalampos Kostoulas meets Rutter’s cross with a clever glancing header into the net, bringing Brighton within one goal late in stoppage time.
- 90+6’ GOAL! Mbeumo (Manchester United) – As Brighton pushes forward, Bruno intercepts a loose pass and launches a counterattack. He releases Mbeumo on the left flank, who dashes into the box and smashes the ball high past Verbruggen to seal a 4–2 victory for United.
Final Score: Manchester United 4-2 Brighton
Tactical Breakdown
Manchester United ended their Brighton curse with a thrilling 4–2 win at Old Trafford, showcasing Rúben Amorim’s tactical brilliance. The Reds played with aggression, fluid pressing, and precise execution in transition. Matheus Cunha opened the scoring early, setting the tone for a night where United dictated rhythm and tempo.
Amorim’s 3-4-3 system worked perfectly, allowing Bruno Fernandes to orchestrate attacks while Casemiro supported from deep. The Brazilian veteran doubled United’s lead with a brave run into the box, showing how Amorim is blending balance with vertical movement. United’s midfield pressed in waves, closing Brighton’s options and forcing errors under pressure.
Brighton fought back with goals from Danny Welbeck and Kostoulas, but United’s response was instant. Bryan Mbeumo’s brace underlined Amorim’s attacking evolution—precise, fast, and ruthless. His first came from a well-crafted team move; his second sealed the night deep in stoppage time.
United looked powerful in transition, their pressing sharp and coordinated. Dalot and Dorgu pushed high, while Fernandes kept control in midfield, ensuring Brighton’s possession play never truly threatened. Amorim’s relentless demand for energy was evident in every duel.
In the end, this wasn’t just a win—it was a statement. United’s intensity, clarity, and tactical maturity signaled a new rhythm under Amorim, as they climbed into the top four and silenced past doubts at Old Trafford.
Standout Performers
- Mbeumo- Mbeumo announced himself immediately, scoring within the first two minutes of the game. His energy and sharpness in attack defined United’s performance as he netted twice and constantly terrorized Brighton’s defense with precise movements and link-up play. He maintained an 89% pass accuracy, completed four successful take-ons, and contributed defensively with tracking runs and seven recoveries.
- Matheus Cunha- Cunha was the orchestra’s conductor, opening the scoring with a composed finish to register his maiden United goal. Beyond that, he controlled tempo, carried the ball expertly under pressure, and pressed aggressively. His passing range and vision created several chances, while his resistance to Brighton’s midfield press drew comparisons to top-tier Premier League creators.
- Casemiro- The Brazilian anchor delivered a performance that balanced defensive steel with attacking precision. He scored via a deflected strike and provided an assist for Cunha’s opener. Casemiro’s positional sense was crucial against Brighton’s counter-attacks, and he dominated in duels and recoveries.
Manager and Player Reaction
🚨🗣️Mbeumo: “We played a great game but we are disappointed to concede two goals. The most important thing is to win.” pic.twitter.com/no09ZhFoCg
— The Touchline | 𝐓 (@TouchlineX) October 25, 2025
Mbeumo:
“My brace? It feels so good! The fans are incredible. It’s always great to score, but even more so at Old Trafford.”
“We played a great game, but we are disappointed to concede two goals. The most important thing is to win.”
Matheus Cunha mentioned in the post-game interview that his teammates jokingly said, “Oh so you can score.” 😂 pic.twitter.com/3gCRVuViPU
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) October 25, 2025
Cunha:
“I will remember this day forever. We trust the coach so much.”
“I haven’t scored in a long time. The players were joking with me in the locker room, saying, “Oh, so you can score (laughs)”.”
Stats
Man Utd 4 : 2 Brighton
▪ xG: 2.28 – 1.29
▪ xThreat: 1.19 – 1.55
▪ Possession: 43.3% – 56.7%
▪ Field Tilt: 58.8% – 41.2%
▪ Def Action Height: 46.8 – 45.3Donations https://t.co/nlgfzDqYhs pic.twitter.com/lHNcg0QQ1n
— markstats bot (@markstatsbot) October 25, 2025
Effects on the Premier League Table
Manchester United fans will be very happy to see their club in the top 4. After a long time, they won three consecutive matches. Amorim is in a very good momentum and will want to climb up the ladder and maintain this level of gameplay. The players look very confident, happy, and motivated, which is a very positive sign.
After Matchday 9 Day 1, the table looks like this:
Fan Reactions
Not a big fan of long balls played directly by the goalkeeper without even an attempt to bait the press. The performance was better today than against Liverpool, but Man United could be even more effective if they combined this direct approach with trying to stretch the opponent pic.twitter.com/Wc1HMUJrRW
— markstats (@markrstats) October 25, 2025
Conclusion
United is slowly but steadily strengthening its place in the top 4. Finally, a goal drought ended for Cunha. Though he contributed a lot in the final third and midfield, critics were still in doubt.
Manchester United is preparing for the next match, as Amorim said. What happened is past, and this attitude to one game at a time by Amorim is applauded by both critics and fans.
