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Mbeumo double as United beat Brighton 4-2

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Third win in a row for Amorim's team

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Brighton fight back from 3-0 down to get to 3-2

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By Peter Hall

MANCHESTER, England, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Manchester United's ( MANU ) improvement under coach Ruben Amorim continued as Matheus Cunha, Casemiro and two goals from Bryan Mbeumo secured a 4-2 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday, their third successive Premier League win.

Looking to build on last weekend's first victory at Liverpool since 2016, Cunha arrowed home a sublime 24th-minute strike into the bottom corner, the Brazilian's first goal for United.

There was fortune about the second from Brazilian Casemiro 10 minutes later, his shot taking a huge deflection before finding the net, and Mbeumo's well-taken third just after the hour mark put the hosts in complete command.

Danny Welbeck's sublime free kick against his former pulled one back for Brighton, before Charalampos Kostoulas's header in stoppage time ensured a nervy finish at Old Trafford.

With Brighton committing everyone forward in search of the equaliser, Mbeumo fired a fine strike into the roof of the net to lift United to fourth in the standings. Brighton stayed 12th.

BRIGHTON BIG TEST FOR UNITED

The visit of Brighton provided a big test for an improving United, given that since start of 2021-22 season, no team has won more league games against United than their opponents.

Victory at Anfield was the first time Amorim had achieved back-to-back league wins since taking charge 11 months ago, but the United manager insisted the revival would be undone if they slipped to another loss to Brighton.

Welbeck forced a fine save from United goalkeeper Senne Lammens early on as Brighton started brightly, but Cunha's pinpoint finish settled home nerves. Since the start of last season, Cunha has scored more goals from outside the box than any other Premier League player in all competitions.

Casemiro's deflected strike deservedly put a dominant United further ahead, with more chances coming and going to extend the hosts' lead before the break.

Mbeumo followed up his goal at Liverpool with the third to put United into a seemingly unassailable position.

Proof they are far from the finished article yet came, however, as mistakes crept in and Welbeck started the Brighton comeback.

United appeared on the ropes when Kostoulas pounced, but Mbeumo made sure of the three points in style, a third United league win in a row for the first time August 2024.