Benjamin Sesco came on from the bench and his 96th-minute goal gave Manchester United a 1-1 draw at the London Stadium, denying West Ham an important win as they look to stay in the Premier League.
West Ham, coached by Michael Carrick, lost their fifth consecutive win to the visiting side, but Tomas Soucek’s goal was not enough to move them level on points with 17th-placed Nottingham Forest, but Sesco, who made three substitute appearances, scored his second goal in stoppage time.
On a night that proved yet another test for Carrick’s side, Manchester United had few answers against a rejuvenated West Ham side who conceded most of the possession to the visitors.
Benjamin Sesco celebrates stoppage-time equalizer against West Ham
An inspired Aaron Wan-Bissaka denied his former club a first-half lead by clearing Luke Shaw’s shot over the line after completing a well executed corner routine.
The first half was nothing compared to the second, and five minutes after half-time Jarrod Bowen bullied Shaw and set up Soucek’s goal right in front of England manager Thomas Tuchel.
Casemiro scored a header in the 62nd minute, but the Brazilian’s goal was ruled offside after a VAR check, resulting in a narrow decision.
West Ham’s points drop gives Forest a chance to shake off the Hammers, who play Wolves on Wednesday. Manchester United remain in 4th place.
Nuno: I should have let the game sleep.
Tomas Soucek celebrates after scoring the winning goal against Man United
West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo thought they should have secured the three points given the chances late on, but praised the Hammers’ overall performance.
“(I’m) disappointed. Of course we all (are),” Nuno said.
“The players, the fans and all of us are disappointed that the winning goal was conceded in the final minute of the game.
“We played really well. We were able to contain a very good team that had good dynamics. You could see the quality, the effort of the players and the organization.”
“The way we started the second half was really positive. We went and scored. We defended really well. We had some good chances. But overall, it was a very positive performance on the defensive side of the game.”
“We also had a couple of situations in the final moments where we had good space behind it. We should have ended the game.”
Carrick: Another late goal is positive.
Manchester United manager Michael Carrick said it was a positive sign that his team continued to show their ability to fight back.
“I have mixed feelings,” he said. “We know we are not at our best and I give credit to West Ham for filling certain spaces, but we can be better.
“The players were a little bit frustrated and disappointed, but that’s a really good sign for me. And to be able to finish with a goal in the second half when we needed to find a goal was a good moment and it was a positive for us to know that we can do it.”
“And we don’t want to pull it and use it too often, but in the big picture there are points and there’s something we can get and we dust ourselves off a little bit, evaluate it, rest these games, take a five-game period and just one draw there is a big plus.”
