Roberto De Zerbi claimed that there was a “God of football” as he savoured a last-gasp home victory over Manchester United which fired Brighton’s hopes of a first ever European qualification.
The manager had been distraught on the Sunday before last when his team were beaten by United after a penalty shootout in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley; he felt it was an undeserved result. But on an emotional night at the Amex Stadium, Alexis Mac Allister scored with a penalty deep into stoppage time for a 1-0 win. The kick was awarded after a VAR intervention for a handball against Luke Shaw.
“There is a God of football because we deserved to win in the semi-final,” De Zerbi said. “In both games, I think we played better than United. The last result was unfair.
“We dominated the game against one incredible team but now we have to play another six very tough games [in the race for European qualification].”
It was a fiery game, with Erik ten Hag unhappy with a series of challenges from Brighton that stopped counterattacks. The United manager also raged at the award of the late free-kick for a Shaw challenge on Julio Enciso that led to the corner, from which Shaw would concede the penalty.
“What’s annoying is the free-kick before is never a free-kick and I have seen really bad tackles today,” Ten Hag said. “Every attack you make with perspective they kick you. Then a fair block, it’s a free-kick … corner … then, of course, disappointed with the handball. But we have to do our jobs to the end. If you can’t win, don’t lose. We also didn’t take our chances.”
The Brighton goalkeeper, Jason Steele, who made a clutch of vital saves, said: “It wasn’t about revenge or anything like that. Did we have a little bit extra motivation? Yes, probably, but I don’t think it spilled over into any more than that.
“We deserved to win. It was special. A last-minute winner, you can’t beat that.”
