Manchester United crashed out of the Carabao Cup in humiliating fashion at Old Trafford, as Brighton fought back from two goals down to book their place in the last 16.
United head coach Michael Carrick was forced to send on captain Bruno Fernandes with 18 minutes remaining, a desperate bid to rescue the match after seeing his side concede twice within four second-half minutes.
It marked the first occasion United had held a two-goal lead at home and still lost since a 3-2 defeat to Tottenham in 1976, half a century ago.
The small group of Brighton supporters were overjoyed as they celebrated in the corner of Old Trafford, while home fans booed their team off at the final whistle.
It was the worst imaginable result for United and Carrick, who were still recovering from the shock of the Manchester derby loss to 10-man City—and then 15-year-old academy prospect JJ Gabriel telling the club he wanted to leave.
United believed they had delivered the ideal response when their other highly rated youngster, Shea Lacey, marked his first senior start with a finely taken goal after only eight minutes.
Mason Mount made it two minutes later, driving home the rebound after a Marcus Rashford effort had been blocked.
At that stage, it appeared it would be a good night for Carrick and his players.
But Charalampos Kostoulas reduced the deficit just before half-time. Brighton captain Pascal Gross equalized after being left alone on the edge of the box, with time to turn on to a clearance from halfway and fire his shot past Wales goalkeeper Karl Darlow, who was making his United debut.
Four minutes later, Kostoulas turned provider, cutting the ball back for substitute Maxim de Cuyper to finish.
Jason Steele denied Marcus Rashford an equalizer at one end, but United depended on Darlow to keep out Diego Gomez and prevent a fourth Brighton goal.
Following their humbling EFL Cup defeat at League Two Grimsby last season and then Brighton’s FA Cup win here in January, this was a third straight domestic cup loss for Manchester United.
