Matheus Cunha finally opened his Manchester United scoring account on Saturday, setting the tone for a 4–2 victory over Brighton and Hove Albion at Old Trafford.
The result gave United their third successive Premier League win, their best run of form since February 2024.
The Brazilian forward, who joined from Wolves in a £62.5 million summer transfer, ended an eight-game goal drought to ignite a performance that blended early aggression with flashes of clinical quality.
United’s intent was clear from the opening whistle.
Captain Bruno Fernandes, making his 300th appearance for the club, headed wide from close range inside the first minute, a miss that momentarily quietened the home crowd.
Rúben Amorim’s side continued to press, and their pressure was rewarded in the 24th minute.
Fernandes combined neatly with Casemiro before laying the ball off to Cunha, who unleashed a precise strike from the edge of the area that curled into the far corner beyond Bart Verbruggen’s reach.
The goal was classic Cunha struck cleanly from distance and full of confidence making him the leading Premier League scorer in goals from outside the box since the start of last season.
Ten minutes later, Casemiro doubled the advantage. His shot from the edge of the box took a heavy deflection off Brighton midfielder Yasin Ayari and looped awkwardly over Verbruggen to make it 2–0.
Brighton arrived in Manchester buoyed by three consecutive wins at Old Trafford and six victories from their last eight meetings with United, but Amorim’s men showed renewed resilience.
The hosts maintained control of midfield, with Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo dictating tempo, while Mbeumo’s pace and movement stretched the visitors’ back line.
Mbeumo extended United’s lead to 3–0 just after the hour mark, calmly slotting home after a flowing move that began with Luke Shaw on the left.
Brighton protested a foul in the build-up, but VAR upheld the goal Mbeumo’s fourth since his arrival from Brentford.
United’s defence, however, wavered late on.
Former Red Devil Danny Welbeck curled a brilliant free-kick past Giorgi Mamardashvili in the 74th minute, and substitute Charalampos Kostoulas headed home a James Milner corner in stoppage time to set up a nervous finale.
Yet any hopes of a Brighton comeback were dashed seconds later when Mbeumo latched onto Fernandes’s through ball and rifled in off the underside of the bar for his second of the afternoon, sealing a 4–2 win to roars from the Stretford End.
The victory follows hard-fought wins over Sunderland and Liverpool and lifts United into fourth place ahead of the weekend’s remaining fixtures.
It also offers breathing space for Amorim, whose tenure began under scrutiny after a slow start.
Club co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, recently quoted as backing the Portuguese coach with a three-year plan, was seen applauding enthusiastically from the directors’ box as United re-established their grip on the match.
“We’re beginning to see our identity on the pitch. The players are responding with confidence and discipline.
”This is the Manchester United standard we must maintain, ” Amorim said.
Brighton’s spirited finish couldn’t obscure a poor defensive showing that ended their winning run at Old Trafford.
The Seagulls remain mid-table ahead of their next outing at home to Newcastle.
For United, the result marks a vital turning point — evidence that Amorim’s rebuilding project may finally be gathering momentum.
