Brighton secures comeback victory against Manchester United in Carabao Cup

On the evening of September 16, 2026, Brighton defeated Manchester United 3-2 at Old Trafford, securing a place in the round of 16 of the Carabao Cup. The match began with a dominant display from the hosts, who took a 2-0 lead within the first ten minutes thanks to goals from Lacy in the 8th minute and Mason Mount in the 10th minute. However, Brighton managed to stage a significant comeback.

Greek forward Babis Kostoulas provided the catalyst for Brighton's resurgence by scoring a precise goal during stoppage time of the first half, narrowing the deficit to 2-1. Following the interval, Fabian Hurzeler's side increased their intensity, with Pascal Gross equalizing in the 65th minute before De Cuyper completed the comeback by scoring the winning goal in the 70th minute. Kostoulas played a pivotal role throughout the match, contributing to the decisive third goal as well.

This victory marks a notable success for Brighton at the Stadium of Dreams, a venue where Kostoulas previously scored his first goal in English football during a 4-2 defeat last October. The result eliminates Manchester United from the competition, while Brighton advances to the next stage of the tournament.