Manchester United held to draw by West Ham
Manchester United were booed by fans as they left Old Trafford frustrated on Thursday evening, with West Ham snatching a late equaliser to secure a 1-1 draw, reports BritPanorama.
Diogo Dalot broke the deadlock in the 58th minute, ending an 18-month goal drought when he converted following a deflected effort from Casemiro.
The Portuguese defender’s strike appeared to have set the hosts on course for victory, but Soungoutou Magassa had other ideas. The West Ham midfielder netted his first goal for the club from a corner in the 84th minute, denying Ruben Amorim’s side all three points.
This marked the first Premier League stalemate between these clubs since July 2020. The opening 45 minutes proved an exercise in frustration for the home supporters as United controlled possession throughout yet struggled to penetrate the visitors’ backline. Alphonse Areola was forced into action in the 25th minute, tipping over a looping Bryan Mbeumo effort that appeared destined for the top corner.
Moments later, Aaron Wan-Bissaka cleared Joshua Zirkzee’s attempt off the line, while Jean-Clair Todibo blocked Matheus Cunha’s overhead kick. Bruno Fernandes came agonisingly close when his shot drifted just wide of the post. Despite their territorial dominance, United headed into the interval without reward.
The second period brought the breakthrough United craved. Casemiro launched an attempt towards goal that was partially blocked, with the loose ball falling kindly to Dalot inside the area. The full-back showed composure, taking a touch to control before firing past Areola to send Old Trafford into raptures.
Rather than sitting back, Amorim’s men continued pressing for a second goal. Patrick Dorgu replaced the goalscorer to warm applause from the home faithful with 23 minutes remaining. Konstantinos Mavropanos deflected a Cunha effort over the bar as United sought to extend their advantage, yet that killer second goal proved elusive.
The equaliser arrived with just six minutes of normal time remaining. Andy Irving’s corner found its way through a crowded penalty area, and Magassa was perfectly positioned to bundle the ball home.
In the closing stages, United’s composure deserted them. Fernandes ballooned a chance over the crossbar as panic set in, while substitute Mohamadou Kanté fired wide on his debut. The dropped points leave United languishing in eighth position in the table, while West Ham, despite claiming a valuable point on the road, remains mired in the relegation zone. For Amorim, the inability to convert dominance into victory continues to prove costly.
It’s a stark reminder of the thin line between hope and despair in football; one moment of brilliance overshadowed by a lapse in concentration, underscoring the unpredictable nature of the game.
