Manchester United came from a heavy loss in the Champions League where Swiss Young Boys turned around and won 2-1. When Ole Gunnar Solskjær presented the starting eleven in the away meeting with West Ham, Cristiano Ronaldo was with from the start.
The home team also came from the European Games where they defeated Dinamo Zagreb 2-0. In West Ham, in turn, attacking star Michail Antonio, who is injured, was missing.
When the match then started, it was West Ham who created the most during the initial twenty minutes. Jarrod Bowen came close to leveling the score 17 minutes into the game, as he was set up with a through ball coming in from the left, but his shot hit the post. Shortly afterwards, the same Bowen was close again, but then instead saved David De Gea in the United goal.
But after 30 minutes, West Ham would receive a dividend. Said Benrahma got a pass just outside United’s penalty area and then pulled at once. The shot was then controlled via Raphael Varane and in to 1-0 for the home team.
But that lead would not be long. Just five minutes later, Ronaldo stood in front of a post from United’s left wing and struck. Lukasz Fabianski saved the first attempt but returned, which Ronaldo intercepted and rolled in 1-1.
At the start of the second half, Ronaldo was close to giving the visitors the lead. After receiving a pass in West Ham’s penalty area, he found shooting position and pulled to. But Fabianski was involved and steered the ball to the corner.
Overall, it was a pretty even half, though. West Ham were close to making it 2-1 through Pablo Fornals and United threatened through their offensive options. With 13 minutes left to play, Ronaldo wanted a penalty after going down in West Ham’s penalty area, but the referee eventually acquitted.
It would instead take until the 89th minute before United decided. Jesse Lingard, who was criticized after the loss to Young Boys this week, dribbled away Kurt Zouma in the West Ham defense before he then thundered in 2-1 in the far cross.
West Ham would then have a dream situation to equalize when they were awarded a penalty in overtime – but David De Gea saved Mark Noble’s penalty in the 95th (!) Minute.
Lingard, who spent the second half of last season on loan at West Ham, became a United hero with his dream match with De Gea. The match ended 2-1 and United took all three points.
With the victory, United hooks Liverpool at the top of the Premier League and lands in second place with 13 points in four games. West Ham, in turn, settle for eighth place. Next, Aston Villa await at home in the league for Manchester United, while West Ham visit Leeds on Elland Road.
– It was the last minute, I saved the penalty. All that went through my head was “save the punishment”. It is incredibly big with three points for us. It was a very tough match and both teams had good chances, but a fantastic goal by Jesse, says penalty saver David De Gea to English Sky Sports after the match.
West Ham: Fabianski – Coufal, Zouma, Ogbonna, Cresswell – Bowen, Soucek, Rise, Benrahma, Fornals – Vlasic
Manchester United: De Gea – Wan Bissaka, Maguire, Varane, Shaw – Greenwood, McTominay, Fred, Ferandes, Pogba – Ronaldo
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