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Boos ring at Old Trafford as Man Utd crash out of Cup
AP • September 17th, 2026 10:11 am
Maxim De Cuyper, front right, scores Brighton's winner against Manchester United at Old Trafford | Photo: AP
Manchester United have blown a two-goal lead to crash out of the English League Cup after a 3-2 loss to Brighton.
Boos rang around Old Trafford at the final whistle as United fell to their third defeat of the season, and second in as many games following Sunday's loss to Manchester City.
United led 2-0 after 10 minutes against Brighton through quickfire goals from Shea Lacey and Mason Mount.
But Brighton launched a stunning comeback with Charalampos Kostoulas pulling one back before halftime before Pascal Gross and Maxim De Cuyper secured victory after the break.
Pascal Gross (right) celebrates for Brighton after scoring in their League Cup win at Old Trafford | Photo: AP
Defeat means United have suffered elimination from the competition at the earliest stage for the second season in a row.
At Coventry Building Society Arena, Tammy Abraham scored twice in his first start of the season as Aston Villa booked their place in the fourth round with a 3-1 victory over Coventry.
Abraham started over summer signing Nicolas Jackson and cashed in on his chance to pile more early season misery on to Frank Lampard's side who were beaten for a second time at home in the space of a week.
Both teams have shared early season struggles in front of goal in the Premier League, with Coventry still yet to find the net while Villa only scored once, so few would have been blamed for not expecting goals.
Tammy Abraham scored a brace against Coventry | Photo: AP
But Villa have saved their best goalscoring form for the cup matches so far this season and Abraham slotted Villa in front before Victor Torp's sublime free-kick got Coventry level.
Ross Barkley punished the hosts from a corner five minutes before the break to give the visitors the lead heading into the interval.
And set-pieces proved to be the Sky Blues' downfall as they conceded from a corner for a second time in the contest when Abraham tapped home from John McGinn's delivery.
Everton beat second-tier Wolves 1-0 at home to progress with Charly Alcaraz scoring in the 80th minute, while League Two Fleetwood beat Chris Wilder's Sheffield United 1-0.
Meanwhile, Liverpool will host Chelsea in a blockbusting all-Premier League tie in the fourth round.
