MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MARCH 17: Nemanja Matic of Manchester United scores their second goal during the Emirates FA Cup Quarter Final between Manchester United and Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford on March 17, 2018 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

Manchester United have VAR to thank for their first league win of the season.

The Red Devils defeated Brighton & Hove Albion 3-2 at the Amex Stadium with the fifth and deciding goal coming after the final whistle.

Bruno Fernandes beat Aussie shot-stopper Mat Ryan from the spot once again to break Brighton hearts in the 99th minute.

Brighton dominated much of the game and went 1-0 up after Fernandes infringed giving away a penalty.

Neal Maupay took the spot kick and scored with a class panenka to beat David De Gea.

United struck back almost immediately as captain Harry Maguire tapped home from a Nemanja Matic cut back.

The hosts thought they had been given a second penalty when Paul Pogba was judged to have fouled Aaron Connolly inside the box.

But VAR took a second look and overturned the decision.

United settled into the game as Marcus Rashford put them up in the second half but the goal was ruled out for offside.

Moments later Rashford scored again this time legally, to put United ahead and score the clubs 10,000th goal.

Brighton hit the woodwork no less then 5 times as they pressured United's crumbling defence.

United looked set to hold on until the last minute of stoppage time when Solly March nodded home unmarked at the back post to seemingly secure Brighton a point.

But United quickly went forward from kick off to earn a corner, from that corner Maguire got his head to the ball but it was cleared from the line and the whistle blew.

United players swamped the referee claiming handball, and VAR agreed. Awarding the penalty against Brighton's first goal scorer Maupay, who's hand had been raised and made contact with the ball off Maguire's head.

Fernandes slotted cooly from the spot to deliver United the three points to help cover up the cracks.

United now sit 14th in the league a game behind most of their opponents and play Brighton again in the Carabao Cup on Thursday morning.