If a forward, midfielder, or defender can win you matches with a late-winning goal then a goalkeeper has also got the equal potential to do so. David de Gea produced a brilliant penalty save to deny Mark Noble at the stoppage time. This dramatic moment helped Manchester United to escape from a frustrating draw and ensured they return home with all three points.
The West-Ham veteran who has been the regular penalty taker for the Hammers over the years came off the bench in place of Bowen. But it wasn’t the result he was expecting.
Moyes might have got his decision wrong. And it was another away win for Solsjaer’s men and it came at the right time as the Top 4 has started to take its shape already.
After all the VAR decisions favoured the home side. Starting from Luke Shaw’s controversial handball to Ronaldo’s penalty shout in the last minutes of the game. He did come across this situation twice but match referee Martin Atkinson was not convinced enough for turning those into penalties.
But it was David Moyes’s West Ham United who took the lead at 30′ in front of their home support. Said Benrahma’s curling effort deflected off Varane. The effort went in the totally opposite direction to the original shot, decieving David de Gea and flew into the far corner.
But United was back on level terms within 5 minutes. With Ronaldo scoring his 3rd league goal of the season so far since returning to the club.
Bruno Fernandes’ diagonal cross was timed perfectly to Ronaldo’s run. Ronaldo flicked the ball towards goal but it was straight at Fabianski. However, the goalie spilled it and the United’s No. 7 was there to do the rest.
Lingard’s and De Gea’s masterclasses were enough for Manchester United in the end.
Ronaldo missed a golden opportunity to take the lead just a few minutes from halftime. But a decisive save from Fabianski kept his team in the hunt. West Ham relied on the counter-attack and set-pieces most of the time.
It was a bitter blow for West Ham United as Jesse Lingard scored the winning curler with just two minutes to go. It was a kind of dramatic end to a thrilling match that saw Lingard returning to haunt his previous club which he was on loan.
A wonderful through ball from Matic to Lingard split the West Ham defence. The English midfielder produced a belter of a curler to the right-hand top corner of the net to seal the deal for United. This was Lingard’s second goal of the season and will be hungry to score more.
Both the substitutes, Matic and Lingard got into the act and Ole must be pleased with his substitutions. This was a kind of a solid reply to a few of the United fans who blamed Ole for the defeat midweek.
VAR decisions did not favour United but still they had the last laugh.
At the extra time, Manchester United and their fans believed that Ronaldo was fouled by Zouma in the penalty box. But Atkinson was not interested and that left them livid with the decision. But just a few minutes from then Shaw was penalised for the handball decision at the other end.
According to the new VAR rules, this decision did raise some heated arguments but nothing can much be done. And that meant that it was up to De Gea to save his team. But he did pass with flying colours.
A wonderful cool-headed penalty save from the Spanish International. His last saved penalty was 5 years ago from Romelu Lukaku in the FA Cup. After what was a difficult Europa League final and a long wait to save a penalty, yesterday’s one really meant a lot to him.
Not a bad start to their campaign, conceded just 4 goals in the season so far and out of which 2 were the deflected ones, and scored 13. Now Manchester United will play with the same opponent on Wednesday in the 3rd round of EFL at Old Trafford.
