Leon Balogun played his first English Premier League game for Brighton & Hove Albion as they defeated Manchester United 3-2 at the Falmer Stadium on Sunday.
Coach Chris Hughton continued with his preferred centre-back partnership of Shane Duffy and Lewis Dunk against Jose Mourinho’s side.
The latter was forced off in the 20th minute – with the game still goalless – after suffering an injury, thus, affording the ex-Mainz 05 defender his debut.
A 20-minute onslaught – that started only five minutes after his introduction – on the Red Devils’ defence yielded three goals through veteran forward Glenn Murray, Duffy, with Pascal Gross netting from the spot on the half-time mark – after Romelu Lukaku had grabbed United’s first goal.
The visitors would not go down without a fight as Paul Pogba reduced the deficit from 12-yard out after Duffy caught substitute Marouane Fellaini in the area, but that was barely enough as Brighton secured their first points of the 2018-19 campaign.
Balogun joined the Seagulls this summer before heading out to the World Cup in Russia, and participated in their pre-season activities upon his return to England.
While the severity of Dunk’s injury is yet to be ascertained, it could help the German-born defender, who fared well facing United’s attack, force his way into Hughton’s plan.
