Mason Greenwood’s 17th goal of the season places him alongside George Best, Wayne Rooney and Brian Kidd as Manchester United’s most prolific teenagers. More importantly, its second-half equalizer means Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s team only has to tie in Leicester on the last day of Sunday to seal fourth place and the Champions League standings – a demand that the manager would have accepted. during the dark winter days.
Error-prone David de Gea was retained by Solskjær, while Timothy Fosu-Mensah entered for Aaron Wan-Bissaka on the right side, due to a blow, the manager explained.
West Ham’s goal difference made them almost certain and David Moyes sent an unchanged XI in what was a second return to his old club as manager.
United’s initial intention was shown when Bruno Fernandes slid Anthony Martial down the right. The center forward dropped one shoulder and forced a strong save from Lukasz Fabianski.
Greenwood did the exact same moments later and Manchester United’s pace was already higher than Sunday’s soporific pace when it was knocked out of the FA Cup by Chelsea.
Fosu-Mensah, Fernandes, Nemanja Matic, Paul Pogba, Martial and Marcus Rashford were the next to investigate. However, United’s rear guard had a scare when Aaron Cresswell shot a free kick from the left and the ball was allowed to rebound directly through De Gea’s goal.
United’s strong point is the attack: a Rashford pass that dipped Fernandes into the clearing was an illustration, although the latter’s awkward touch disappointed him. After too high a martial shot, Michail Antonio forced a corner kick that Fernandes accidentally ignited and Harry Maguire had to clear. West Ham was dangerous, but only when he allowed it. A Rashford run down a left channel turned a group of visiting defenders down the wrong path and showed that when United reached a higher speed, they were a superior class.
A patient wing-to-wing attack ended with Fernandes pulling the trigger at long range – a sign of how robust West Ham was proving.
Then Brandon Williams was mistaken for Jarrod Bowen, Matic stepped in and West Ham had a corner. This was brief for Bowen and Angelo Ogbonna had a free header that he should have worked with for De Gea.
The last in a catalog of United’s first half shots was shot at Fabianski by Rashford and the keeper had to beat him. What United was missing was an incision, so when Williams ducked behind West Ham it was a rare foray, and while his cross fell on Fosu-Mensah, he flew weakly.
Disaster hit for United with a free kick. Declan Rice hit his shot against the wall, Pogba raised his arms to protect his face, the ball hit a hand and VAR awarded a penalty. Antonio made no mistake from the start.
Solskær needed a sharp word, or three, in the interval. He also removed Fosu-Mensah and introduced Wan-Bissaka.
United’s pace picked up, but quality was lacking again when Fernandes exaggerated and Pogba wandered.
Finally, United clicked: Pogba fed Greenwood, who fed Martial, who returned the ball to him. A second one-two between the pair ended with Greenwood inside, and the 18-year-old crashed at home for his tenth league goal.
Solskjær’s expression showed relief, an emotion reflected in his substitutes and staff. United had drawn momentum. Suddenly Williams was popping up in the area and Bowen pushed him, but VAR was not interested.
Dea Gea had to be: an instantaneous shot from Bowen that hit Williams and the goalie with a good flick of the finger in what was another West Ham warning.
Another came when Rice unloaded: De Gea was hit but the effort was off target. It was about United maintaining control and making sure their undefeated league spanned 13 games.
The best method was to operate in the middle of the opposition, but West Ham had its moments. A free kick by Mark Noble that Rashford jumped to sum up United’s nerves. But they waited: now it’s about Leicester.
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