De Cuyper’s 69th-minute strike sends Brighton past Manchester United in Carabao Cup third round

Manchester United were knocked out of the Carabao Cup third round by Brighton on 16 September 2026 after surrendering a 2-0 lead, with Maxim De Cuyper’s 69th-minute strike proving the winner.

The result came amid a bruising four-day run for United: they had lost the 199th derby to Manchester City and been told by JJ Gabriel he wants to leave, and the club have taken only four points from twelve in the league. Michael Carrick had said Sunday’s injustice against City would give his side an edge, but Brighton’s comeback ended United’s cup campaign.

Brighton’s Shea Lacey opened the scoring seven minutes in, decorating a full debut by shimmying inside the area, beating Jaouen Hadjam and firing beyond Jason Steele. Less than two minutes later Mason Mount doubled United’s advantage after Marcus Rashford’s pace and drive forced a save from Steele, the rebound bouncing to Mount who drove home via the turf for his first goal since a win at Wolves last December.

Brighton, who had lost only one of their last five visits here and sit fifth in the league under Fabian Hürzeler, gradually recovered their footing. Pascal Gross and Malick Yalcouyé had earlier chances for the visitors; Gross later capitalised after a sequence that began when Luka Vuskovic headed on from Diogo Dalot’s failed clearance, the Brighton captain making room to score.

Charalampos Kostoulas had earlier found the net by scampering free from a long Hadjam diagonal and beating debutant Karl Darlow through his legs to lift Brighton’s hope, and his right-sided cross later pinged off Noussair Mazraoui’s backside to present the chance that Maxim De Cuyper finished on 69 minutes.

Carrick responded by introducing Bruno Fernandes for Mount on 72 minutes and then Matheus Cunha, late changes that underlined his desperation, but United could not fashion a decisive response. Marcus Rashford’s late run and attempt to level hit Jason Steele rather than the net, and Kostoulas went close to a second for Brighton as United remained toothless.

United now have to beat Fulham on Sunday to begin correcting a disappointing start to the season after taking only four points from twelve in league fixtures.