Sheffield United 2-5 Brighton: Joao Pedro hits hat-trick in big FA Cup fourth round win for Roberto De Zerbi's side
Match report as Joao Pedro strikes twice from penalty spot and adds another in at Bramall Lane; Facundo Buonanotte and Danny Welbeck also on target; Sheff Utd pulled it back to 2-2 after going 2-0 down but exit FA Cup while Brighton go into fifth round and aim for another trip to Wembley
By PA Media
Saturday 27 January 2024 19:11, UK
Joao Pedro's hat-trick sent Brighton through to the FA Cup fifth round with a 5-2 win at Sheffield United.
Pedro scored twice from the spot and crashed in an 18-yard drive after Facundo Buonanotte's fine goal had given the Seagulls an early lead, with Danny Welbeck scoring at the death to seal an emphatic victory.
The Blades had battled back from 2-0 down to level thanks to goals from Gus Hamer and Will Osula but they lost to the better team at Bramall Lane.
Both sides were beaten semi-finalists in last year's competition but it is Roberto De Zerbi's side who are dreaming of another cup run while United can concentrate on trying to avoid Premier League relegation.
Brighton had already seen a goal chalked off for offside when they went ahead in sublime fashion in the 14th minute.
Buonanotte picked the ball up in the middle of the hosts' half and jinked past a tackle before unleashing an unstoppable drive that found the top corner from 25 yards.
United would have been level four minutes later had it not been for some heroic defending from Jan Paul van Hecke and Igor Julio as they blocked shots from Osula and Hamer in quick succession.
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That proved important as Brighton went 2-0 up just before the half-hour as a fine piece of skill from Pedro saw him burst into the area where he was clipped by Jayden Bogle.
The striker picked himself up and
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