A year ago
Brighton extract sweet retribution, leaving Manchester United fretting about a top-four finish.
BRIGHTON 1-0 MANCHESTER UNITED: Alexis MacAllister's last-gasp penalty threw Seagulls fans into a frenzy and left the Red Devils worried about securing Champions League football.
After the most dramatic finish at the Amex, Brighton's revenge has never tasted sweeter.
And defeat was such a bitter pill for Manchester United, who may be feeling antsy about their top-four spot.
Brighton's vengeance has never tasted sweeter after the most dramatic finish at the Amex.
And defeat was a bitter pill to swallow for Manchester United, who may be getting restless in their top-four spot.
But, ironically, it was Brighton who got their own back this time, winning three straight Premier League games over United to keep their own European hopes alive.
And it was no surprise that the finale brought the entire stadium to life since, despite the absence of goals, it had been an amazing thriller and one of the best 1-0s you are ever likely to watch.
In addition, United winger Antony ignited a violent brawl after lashing out towards Mac Allister.
All night, referee Andre Marriner fought to keep control of the game, unable to manage the fury and violent challenges as both teams went all out for the triumph that had so nearly eluded them.
There was too much history between these two sides for there not to be an edge, but it was Brighton's noisy fans who deserved their celebrations in the end.
It was practically a perfect duplicate of the previous semi-final because both teams had chances, Brighton wasted them, and United were denied by home keeper Jason Steele.
At the final whistle, you could see the contrast between the managers as Roberto De Zerbi, who had been on his sick bed this week, ran onto the pitch to celebrate with the fans as victory was the perfect tonic.
Erik ten Hag, on the other hand, appeared enraged as his team threw it away in the dying stages, having had a lot of play but gradually retreated deeper and deeper in the last ten minutes, allowing Brighton to apply more and more pressure.
Kaoru Mitoma was responsible for the majority of Brighton's wasted chances, as the Japanese winger would be a fantastic player if he could only finish.
Steele saved superbly from Marcus Rashford and Antony Martial, although Danny Welbeck, Mac Allister, and others came close.
Antony got embroiled in a nasty brawl, losing his composure and then kicking out at Mac Allister, raising the temperature. Antony then fought with Brighton's Lewis Dunk, and both were arrested during the brawl.
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