Brighton’s Alexis Mac Allister (six out of six) has the second-best 100% record in the Premier League this season behind Erling Haaland of Manchester City (seven out of seven).
11 days after losing to them in a penalty shootout in an FA Cup semifinal, Brighton manager Roberto de Zerbi declared ‘there is a god of football’ after his team defeated Manchester United with a late penalty.
After United defeated Albion 7-6 on penalties at Wembley, Alexis Mac Allister’s 99th-minute spot-kick was given due to Luke Shaw’s handball.
“I believe we played more effectively than United in both games. According to De Zerbi, the most recent outcome was unfair.
“I believe that there is a football god.”
“Today we won with a penalty,” he continued. “We deserved to win the semi-final but lost on penalties.”
In a tense Premier League match at the Amex Stadium, both teams had opportunities, and United goalkeeper David de Gea did well to deny Mac Allister and Pervis Etupinan in stoppage time.
After a video assistant referee review determined Shaw had handled, the Seagulls scored the game-winning goal seconds before the buzzer by having Mac Allister score from the spot.
The victory increased Brighton’s chances of making it to Europe next season.
“We dominated the game and played a fantastic game”. De Zerbi continued, “My players earned the victory. We have six more very difficult games to play. We have to win against Everton on Monday in our first challenging game. These three points will be forfeited if we don’t defeat them.”
Brighton, who is currently in sixth place, is now only four points behind Liverpool, who is in fifth place but has played two more games.
“Silly mistake cost us a point”
Deep into the second half’s stoppage time, referee Andre Marriner gave Brighton a penalty.
Manchester United, who are currently in fourth place, lost the opportunity to pull seven points ahead of Liverpool, and defender Shaw acknowledged that his team’s loss was due to a “silly mistake.”
Last second, last action, really. I felt a little nudge, but the hand shouldn’t have been there, he told Sky Sports. “I take responsibility for my actions and accept criticism, but it is difficult.
“The free kick was never a foul, even before the corner. It shouldn’t have been a foul that resulted in the corner, but I’m not looking for an explanation. “Hands up, that was a silly error that cost us a point. We’re not scoring, which is the issue. This season, it happens quite frequently.”
