Photo via Sky Sports

Man Utd collapse from 2-0 up to exit Carabao Cup to Brighton

Manchester United suffered a dramatic 3-2 elimination from the Carabao Cup after letting slip a two-goal lead against Brighton at Old Trafford. Michael Carrick's team appeared in control within ten minutes thanks to strikes from Shea Lacey, who marked his full debut by beating two opponents at the near post, and Mason Mount, who finished just 43 seconds later following a Jason Steele save off Marcus Rashford.

However, the hosts failed to produce another effort on target until the 76th minute, allowing a reshuffled Brighton lineup showing six changes to mount a comeback. Charalampos Kostoulas sparked the recovery in first-half stoppage time after beating Karl Darlow to a loose ball, despite home protests regarding a foul on Benjamin Sesko.

The visitors sealed the turnaround with a rapid second-half burst, as Pascal Gross bundled home from close range in the 65th minute before substitute Maxim De Cuyper met Diego Gomez's cross four minutes later. The defeat marks the first time in 50 years that United have lost at Old Trafford after holding a 2-0 advantage, having won 143 of their previous 145 fixtures from that position.

Although Bruno Fernandes was introduced and Rashford squandered a clear one-on-one opportunity to equalize, the result confirms an opening-round exit from the tournament for the second consecutive campaign.