Soungoutou Magassa’s late goal punished Manchester United’s failure to turn control into goals, as West Ham United claimed a point from a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford on Thursday.
MORE — Amorim, Dalot strike frustrated tone after draw
Diogo Dalot’s goal before the hour mark felt a just reward for the Red Devils’ previous work, but they could not find answers in the final third and West Ham punished them off a late corner kick.
Man United move up just one place instead of four and now sit eighth with 22 points, behind Brighton and above Liverpool on goal differential.
WATCH — Manchester United v West Ham full match replay
West Ham remain in the drop zone with 12 points, two ahead of 19th-place Burnley and two behind 17th-place Leeds.
Man United stars fumble the bag
The Red Devils labored in the final third despite complete control from maybe the 20th minute through halftime. They looked unsure in their decisions and their vision of for teammates. There was so much side-to-side play. Then Diogo Dalot put Man United in front and things should’ve gone even better from there. Did chances arrive? For sure, but Matheus Cunha missed a huge chance. Bruno Fernandes couldn’t make magic out of several half-chances. The always-energetic Bryan Mbeumo fought his touch like it was a bad cold. And then Amad Diallo, one of the game’s stars, switched off at the back post on a corner kick. Just like that, the Red Devils were chasing a win in too familiar fashion. Something has to change. Maybe Bruno Fernandes needs to move up the pitch and Kobbie Mainoo or Manuel Ugarte take his place. It’s not about the system at this point, which is nice for Amorim. It’s about unconfident players.
What’s next?
West Ham go to Brighton at 9am ET Sunday, then host Villa the following Sunday (December 14)
Manchester United wait til Monday for a visit to Wolves. They then play the following Monday (December 15) at home to Bournemouth.
Manchester United vs West Ham final score: 1-1
Diogo Dalot 58', Soungoutou Magassa 83'
Five minutes stoppage
Can Man United find a winner in a minimum of five minutes’ stoppage, or will it be more side-to-side play 40 yards out from goal? Intent is missing at the moment.
Lisandro Martinez returns
Man United remove Shaw for the long-awaited return of Lisandro Martinez.
West Ham make a defensive switch as Max Kilman replaces Callum Wilson in the 88th minute.
Soungoutou Magassa goal — Man United 1-1 West Ham
The Red Devils pay for failure to turn control into goals.
Bowen flicks a corner toward goal but is denied by the boot of Mazraoui on the line.
Soungoutou Magassa has the better of his mark Diallo and buries his chance.
Wow, 1-1 out of almost nothing.
West Ham subs
Potts and Soucek exit for Andy Irving and debutant Mohamadou Kante in the 83rd minute.
Man United subs
Cunha and Zirkzee exit for Mason Mount and Manuel Ugarte in the 77th minute.
Penalty shout
Bruno Fernandes sends a long ball to Bryan Mbeumo, who beats Jean-Clair Todibo but takes a heavy touch and hits the deck hoping to turn mild contact into a penalty.
It’s instead a corner after Matheus Cunha sees his shot partially-blocked, and Areola deals with the corner.
Man United sub
Amorim makes its second sub after removing yellow-toting Ayden Heaven for Leny Yoro at the break, putting Patrick Dorgu at left wing back for the goal scorer Dalot.
Diogo Dalot goal — Manchester United 1-0 West Ham
You can’t say it wasn’t deserved.
Amad’s on the ball again and he lays off for a Casemiro first-time hit.
The ball is partially-blocked but Diogo Dalot settles the ball, and the longtime Red Devil buries his chance.
Halftime — Man United 0-0 West Ham
West Ham have not had much of the ball but they have stacked their own 18 and blocked a number of shots while closing a lot of passing lanes.
The Irons have 25 clearances and six blocks through 45 minutes, requiring just a single save from Areola (though it was a very good one).
Once, twice, thrice denied!
Amad’s at it again on the right, and his cross is nearly put over the line by Zirzkee.
But ex-Man United man Aaron-Wan Bissaka heads it away. Then Noussair Mazraoui’s overhead kick is blocked before Bruno Fernandes’ volley of a third chance clips the outside of the near post.
Set piece comes close
The Irons had the better of play for 5-10 minutes but Bruno Fernandes led a counter that won a corner.
Man United nearly opens the scoring on a short corner routine that leads to Bryan Mbeumo’s spun shot to the back post that forces an off-put Alphonse Areola to slap over the bar.
West Ham deal with the ensuing corner, and it remains 0-0 into the 26th minute.
West Ham free kick
Ayden Heaven gives a way a free kick in his own third with a late challenge on Bowen.
The Irons get the ball into the box and Heaven redeems himself with a block in the ninth minute.
Casemiro saves the day
A lung-busting run down the right from West Ham ends with a cross deflected onto a plate 25 yards from goal.
Mateus Fernandes latches onto a drive but a prone Casemiro blocks the shot before it can pass the penalty spot, let alone the keeper.
Early chance
Amad Diallo gets the better of Malick Diouf on the right and he cuts the ball toward the spot.
Joshua Zirkzee’s near-post run finds the ball at too acute an angle and it’s ends up out for a throw.
Man Utd vs West Ham team news
West Ham do not have Niclas Fullkrug in the 18, while Lucas Paqueta serves his red card suspension. The inclusion of Soungoutou Magassa, Freddie Potts, and Tomas Soucek could mean a more advanced role for Mateus Fernandes.
Man United’s back three is set to look quite different as Matthijs de Ligt misses out on the 18, while Leny Yoro and Lisandro Martinez stay on the bench in favor of a back three with Noussair Mazraoui, Ayden Heaven, and Luke Shaw.
Manchester United lineup
Lammens, Shaw, Heaven, Mazraoui, Dalot, Casemiro, Fernandes, Diallo, Cunha, Mbeumo, Zirkzee
West Ham lineup
Areola, Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Mavropanos, Diouf, Magassa, Potts, Soucek, Fernandes, Bowen, Wilson
Manchester United vs West Ham preview
Ruben Amorim’s Man United ended a three-match winless run by coming back to beat Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Sunday, as Mason Mount and Joshua Zirkzee struck after halftime to move the Red Devils back within three points of the top four. And they may get Matheus Cunha back for this tilt. A win wouldn’t put the Red Devils back in the top four but would put them level on points with current fourth-place side Chelsea. A nine-plus goal win would do the trick, but we’re not having that discussion at this time.
West Ham, meanwhile, have drawn Bournemouth away and fell to Liverpool at home, quieting the good vibes delivered by a pair of home wins over Newcastle United and Burnley. Nuno Espirito Santo’s Hammers are only out of the bottom three on tiebreakers, boasting the same record and goal differential as 18th-place Leeds, who play Wednesday.
Manchester United team news, focus
OUT: Benjamin Sesko (knee), Harry Maguire (thigh) | QUESTIONABLE: Matheus Cunha (knock - MORE)
West Ham team news, focus
OUT: Lucas Paqueta (suspension), Lukasz Fabianski (back), Oliver Scarles (shoulder) | QUESTIONABLE: Crysencio Summerville (knock)
Manchester United vs West Ham prediction
Lucas Paqueta’s absence is the biggest one for either team and United should be able to garner some good vibes from the Palace win, especially with this match coming at Old Trafford. Manchester United 2-0 West Ham United.
How to watch Manchester United vs West Ham live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 3pm ET Thursday
Venue: Old Trafford — Greater Manchester
TV Channel: USA
Streaming: Watch live on NBC.com
