West Ham had a chance to steal at least a point but Mark Noble failed to convert his injury-time penalty as De Gea got down to make the save.
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Drama is an apt word to sum up the game at the London Stadium. Cristiano Ronaldo and returning Jesse Lingard scored for Manchester United in a come-from-behind 2-1 victory at West Ham United on Sunday. But the main man was Manchester United’s goalkeeper David De Gea, who saved an injury-time penalty of Mark Noble to secure the three points. It was West Ham, who opened the deadlock through a deflected shot by Said Benrahma in the 30th minute. United looked shaky and undisciplined at the back, but Cristiano got the equaliser in the 35th minute, meaning both teams had all to play for in the second half. Jesse Lingard produced a stunner late in the second half to get United back in front. It looked like the three points were in the bag for United, but a VAR intervention in the 93rd minute caught Luke Shaw handle the ball as he was blocking Yarmolenko’s cross. From the resulting spot-kick, however, De Gea had the final laugh!
⚽ | “I had a good time at #WHUFC but I’ve got to move on.”
? | “I saw Rice with the ball – I was expecting him to take the penalty!”#MUFC duo Jesse Lingard and David de Gea speak to Sky Sports after their dramatic win against #WHUFC. pic.twitter.com/f5jTTErg5L— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 19, 2021
West Ham with a full-packed stadium had their chins up. They caused many problems to the shaky United defence. Early in the first half, Harry Maguire was hounded by Jarrod Bowen as he tried to clear his lines but he couldn’t get free. Maguire was forced closer and closer to the byline before Said Benrahma came across and stole the ball. He laid it back to Bowen who had made the underlapping run into the box. Bowen’s shot was blocked by Wan-Bissaka and Varane at the near post.
Soon after, West Ham managed to take the lead. Bowen went down the right side of the Man Utd box before slotting it to Benrahma outside the box. He collected the ball, set himself and fired it at goal. Varane tried to block the shot but it took a huge deflection off him. De Gea was caught in no man’s land as the ball ended in the back of the net.
West Ham’s London Stadium is the 66th different stadium that Cristiano Ronaldo has scored at in matches played in Europe’s big five leagues, scoring at more unique venues than any other player since his Man Utd debut in 2003-04, ahead of Zlatan Ibrahimovic (64).
Just @Cristiano things.#MUFC | #WHUMUN pic.twitter.com/vBSgP1F48V
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) September 19, 2021
Bruno Fernandes crossed a lovely ball into the box from the left side as Ronaldo timed his run to perfection. Aaron Cresswell tried to play for the offside but Ronaldo was just on as he made the run. He met with the cross on the volley which went straight at Fabianski, he kept it out but spilled the ball as Ronaldo was there to slot in the follow up.
Jesse Lingard redeemed himself for the awful mistake on Tuesday night in the Champions League. He weaved into the West Ham box from the left, shimmied inside and rolled the ball onto his right foot before firing a brilliant shot into the far top corner. However, David De Gea was the hero for Manchester United. He saved Mark Noble’s penalty in the final minute of the game to give the Red Devils all three points.
This win for Manchester United take them to the top of the table along with Liverpool. These two sides will meet again in the Carabao Cup in 3 days’ time at Old Trafford.
