Cunha scores first Man Utd goal in win over Brighton

Matheus Cunha notched his debut strike for Manchester United, sparking a 4-2 triumph over Brighton on Saturday, marking the third straight win for Ruben Amorim's rejuvenated squad.

Having endured an eight-match dry spell across all tournaments since joining from Wolves in the summer, the Brazilian striker found the net during the opening period at Old Trafford, beginning to justify his £62.5 million ($83 million) price tag.

Casemiro extended United's advantage before the break, with Bryan Mbeumo adding to the tally in the second half.

Late efforts from Danny Welbeck, facing his old team, and Charalampos Kostoulas in added time proved insufficient for Brighton to earn a draw.

Mbeumo sealed the deal with another goal right at the end, securing United's first three-game Premier League winning streak since February 2024, during Erik ten Hag's time as Amorim's forerunner.

The assured performance built on the previous week's success against Liverpool and the victory over Sunderland that led into their initial Anfield win since 2016.

That 2-1 defeat of the league leaders provided Amorim with vital encouragement amid a rocky season launch.

This recent success has propelled United to fourth in the Premier League standings before the remaining weekend matches.

Brighton had triumphed in their prior three trips to Old Trafford and defeated United in six of the last eight encounters across competitions.

Nevertheless, United halted that poor run, even without the sidelined Harry Maguire, who had starred in the Liverpool clash.

Bruno Fernandes reached his 300th outing for United, and the Portuguese playmaker squandered a chance to open the scoring in the opening minute.

The United skipper, free and near the goal, sent a header astray despite the target being wide open.

Sharp United

Amorim's side earned reward for their initial onslaught in the 24th minute, with Fernandes and Casemiro setting up Cunha outside the Brighton box for a precise shot that flew past Bart Verbruggen into the distant corner.

From the beginning of the previous campaign, Cunha has tallied seven goals from long range, outpacing all other Premier League players in every competition.

Casemiro added his name to the scoresheet in the 34th minute alongside his compatriot.

Whereas Cunha's effort was meticulously built and executed, Casemiro benefited from a hefty deflection to score his second of the campaign.

The midfielder's attempt from the box's perimeter veered sharply off Brighton's Yasin Ayari, deceiving Verbruggen as it looped meekly across the line.

Recently, United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe affirmed that the scrutinised Amorim deserves three years to restore the club's fortunes after their poorest top-flight position since 1973-74 last term.

Though sceptics question if Ratcliffe will honour that pledge should struggles persist, Amorim took heart from seeing his boss applauding and celebrating as the home team dominated.

United have yet to drop a Premier League match at Old Trafford when ahead at the interval.

Mbeumo preserved that record by calmly converting in the 61st minute, irking Brighton who argued Luke Shaw fouled during the sequence.

This marked Mbeumo's fourth goal since transferring from Brentford in the summer, carrying forward his form from the Liverpool game last weekend.

Welbeck's exquisite free-kick in the 74th minute ignited some tension for United.

Their anxiety peaked further when Kostoulas nodded in James Milner's corner in the dying moments.

Yet Mbeumo eased the growing pressure with nearly the final touch, dashing onto Fernandes's through ball and blasting it off the bar into the net.