Manchester United suffered a 2-1 defeat against West Ham on Sunday, continuing their challenging run in recent matches. Following a 1-1 draw with Fenerbahce in the Europa League on Thursday, United aimed to regain momentum but started strongly against West Ham, dominating the first half.
Erik ten Hag’s side created several scoring opportunities, but a key moment came when Diogo Dalot made a critical error, attempting to take the ball past goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski. Despite having a clear chance to score, Dalot failed to convert, and the first half concluded without any goals.
As the second half began, West Ham showed signs of improvement and took the lead in the 73rd minute. However, Manchester United quickly responded, with Casemiro equalizing with a well-timed header less than ten minutes later. With the score level, United had a chance to push for a win, but it was West Ham who found the back of the net again, benefiting from a highly controversial penalty.
The aftermath of the match was filled with tension, as angry reactions from both the touchline and the stands could not mask the reality of the result. Even against a West Ham side that has struggled this season, Manchester United found themselves on the losing end.
Despite being booed at halftime, West Ham managed to secure the win, showcasing that they are no longer the pushovers they once seemed to be.
The controversy surrounding West Ham’s winning penalty—stemming from a collision between Matthijs de Ligt and Danny Ings—will likely haunt Manchester United for days to come. The decision involved late intervention from Video Assistant Referee Michael Oliver and an inconclusive review by the on-field official. The incident was displayed on the big screens at the London Stadium, inciting an uproar among United fans.
In the press box, Darren Fletcher rose in disbelief, while Erik ten Hag, Ruud van Nistelrooy, and Rene Hake surrounded the fourth official, questioning the legitimacy of the penalty. De Ligt and Andre Onana argued that there was a handball in the build-up to the penalty.
Regardless of the truth, the situation was reminiscent of cricket’s ‘umpire’s call’ provision, emphasizing that VAR’s involvement in this case was dubious at best, particularly with Oliver overseeing the review.
As the match approached the 100-minute mark, with twelve minutes of stoppage time added, the tension continued to mount. Van Nistelrooy took on the role of ballboy, while Ten Hag emulated Sir Alex Ferguson, tapping his wristwatch to signal the passage of time.
Ultimately, the match ended without further incident, leaving Manchester United to grapple with their frustrations and the consequences of the match for the foreseeable future.
