United Complete Perfect Season Finale with Dominant Brighton Win
Dorgu, Mbeumo and Fernandes seal comprehensive 3-0 victory on final day
Manchester United signed off their Premier League season with authority, dismantling Brighton 3-0 at the Amex Stadium on Sunday afternoon to cement second place in the table. The Red Devils' clinical display on Matchweek 38 showcased exactly why they've accumulated 78 points this campaign.
Brighton started brightly at home, enjoying 51% possession and creating chances, but United's quality in the final third proved decisive. The breakthrough came on 33 minutes when Patrick Dorgu found the net with a well-taken strike, rewarding United's patient build-up play. The left-back's goal capped off an impressive individual season that has seen him contribute three goals and three assists.
Just before halftime, Bryan Mbeumo doubled United's advantage with a trademark finish. The Cameroonian winger, who has been one of United's standout performers this season with nine goals and three assists, showed his class once again to put the visitors in complete control. Kobbie Mainoo picked up a yellow card in first-half stoppage time as Brighton tried to respond.
Any hopes of a Brighton comeback were extinguished just three minutes into the second half when Bruno Fernandes added the third. The Portuguese maestro's strike effectively killed the contest and allowed United to cruise through the remainder of the match. Brighton manager made a flurry of substitutions at the 59-minute mark, bringing on Welbeck, Gomez and Milner in a desperate attempt to find a way back into the game.
The statistics tell the story of United's superiority. Despite Brighton edging possession slightly, the visitors were far more clinical with seven shots on target from 11 attempts compared to Brighton's two from 13. United's expected goals tally of 1.82 suggests they could have won by an even greater margin.
From a SAM ratings perspective, Mbeumo's 8.9 rating reflects his season-long excellence, while Mainoo's 8.3 demonstrates his growing influence in midfield. Brighton's Yasin Abbas Ayari has been their standout performer with a 9.0 SAM rating, but even his creativity couldn't unlock United's disciplined defensive structure.
This result sees United finish with an impressive goal difference of +42, highlighting their attacking prowess throughout the campaign. For Brighton, eighth place with 53 points represents a solid if unspectacular season, though their injury list including Mitoma, March and Gomez certainly hampered their final day preparations.
The victory provides United with perfect momentum heading into the summer break, while Brighton will be hoping to get their key players fit for next season's opener.