Manchester United 1-1 West Ham: Ruben Amorim’s side fail to seize the moment
Manchester United let slip the opportunity to go fifth on Thursday night after a late goal from Soungoutou Magassa earned West Ham a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.
United were on course for a fifth win in eight games that would have moved them closer to the Champions League places after Diogo Dalot put them ahead just before the hour, but they switched off and allowed West Ham to pull level, leaving Ruben Amorim fuming on the sidelines.
For long stretches, this was a low-tempo contest short on clear chances. United had more of the ball after a slow start to the game, growing into the affair until their performance peaked in the first half-hour of the second half.
The breakthrough came in the 58th minute. Casemiro’s shot from distance deflected off Mateus Fernandes and was controlled in the box by Dalot, who then turned and fired past Alphonse Areola.
United remained in the ascendancy. West Ham struggled for chances and hardly tested Senne Lammens. But then from a corner kick Jarrod Bowen glanced the ball towards goal, and after Noussair Mazraoui cleared off the line, the ball fell straight to Magassa, and he swept it into the corner.
Amorim’s nervous pacing near the end told the entire story. United remain within touching distance of the top four, just two points away, but this was an evening to seize the moment and the Portuguese knew it.
