MANCHESTER: Manchester United’s troubled season worsened when the managerless team was knocked out of the FA Cup after losing 1-2 to Brighton in the third round at Old Trafford.
Brajan Gruda put Brighton ahead in the first half before former United striker Danny Welbeck added a goal after the break.
Benjamin Sesko’s consolation goal came too late to save United, who saw their teenage star Shea Lacey sent off in the dying minutes.
The defeat drew cynical cheers from angry supporters, symbolizing the continued suffering of another turbulent season.
Caretaker manager Darren Fletcher has still failed to stem a slump in form after Ruben Amorim was unexpectedly sacked on Monday, with United now looking for a caretaker manager until the end of the season.
Former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and United legend Michael Carrick have been mentioned as potential interim candidates, but the turmoil at Old Trafford has made the job less appealing to any high-profile manager.
Welbeck, 35, was part of United’s last Premier League title-winning squad in 2013 under Alex Ferguson, who watched the humiliating defeat from the referee’s box.
United are currently seventh in the league, without a win in four matches and with only one win in their last seven matches.
A tough road awaits with Manchester City visiting next weekend before a trip to Arsenal on January 25.
After a humiliating League Cup defeat to fourth-tier Grimsby in August, United have now been knocked out of both domestic competitions at the preliminary stage for the first time since the 1981-82 season.
Brighton, meanwhile, avenged their 2023 FA Cup semi-final defeat with a fourth win in their last five visits to Old Trafford.
Kobbie Mainoo made his second start of the season as Fletcher dropped Casemiro to the bench, among three changes from the 2-2 draw against Burnley in midweek.
Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele made some excellent saves to deny Diogo Dalot and Bruno Fernandes, before Brighton punished United’s laxity in the 12th minute.
Welbeck’s move broke through the United defence followed by a pass to Georginio Rutter, whose shot was cleared on the line before Gruda struck from close range.
United looked to be in turmoil, with chants against co-owner Jim Ratcliffe and the Glazer family echoing.
Brighton doubled their lead in the 64th minute when Gruda gave Welbeck space to fire a powerful shot past Senne Lammens.
Sesko sparked a dramatic finish with a header from Fernandes’ corner kick in the 85th minute, but United failed to steal a late comeback.
The defeat was finalized when Lacey received a second yellow card for throwing the ball in frustration.