Dalot Scores but Magassa Denies Manchester United a Vital Win at Old Trafford
Manchester United let another home victory slip through their fingers as West Ham battled back to snatch a 1-1 draw, leaving the Red Devils frustrated and short of momentum in their push for the top five.
Old Trafford felt the weight of familiar frustration as Manchester United were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against relegation-threatened West Ham, a result that once again underlined the Red Devils’ inconsistency this season. Dalot’s composed finish had seemed enough to earn United all three points, but a late strike from Soungoutou Magassa silenced the Theatre of Dreams and secured a priceless point for Nuno’s struggling Londoners.
United entered the match chasing momentum. A spirited win at Selhurst Park had lifted confidence within Ruben Amorim’s camp, and another victory here would have carried them into the Premier League’s top five. Yet despite dominating for long stretches they failed to kill off the contest and paid the price.
The match, played under crisp Thursday-night floodlights, began at a steady pace. United created the better openings, first testing Areola through Mbeumo’s curling effort that the West Ham keeper acrobatically tipped over. Moments later Zirkzee thought he had scored, beating Areola with a clever touch, only for former United full-back Wan-Bissaka making a welcome return to Old Trafford to clear off the line with impeccable timing.
West Ham offered little going forward in the first half, with Bowen providing their only real threat as Nuno’s men struggled to progress the ball. United controlled possession, but the cutting edge still eluded them. Goalless at the break, the hosts walked down the tunnel knowing they should have led.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 58th minute. Amad sliced open West Ham’s midfield and found Casemiro atop the box. His deflected shot dropped kindly for Diogo Dalot, who took a steadying touch before sweeping a cool finish beyond Areola. The goal, Dalot’s first Premier League strike at Old Trafford, sparked the stadium into life and signalled what many assumed would be the beginning of United’s control.
West Ham, however, refused to fade. Knowing a two-goal win would lift them out of the bottom three, they pushed forward with increased urgency. Bowen’s influence grew, and United so composed earlier began to show signs of unease. Late pressure told in the 83rd minute when Irving delivered a wicked corner that Bowen flicked on. Mazraoui made a desperate goal line clearance, but the rebound fell to Magassa, who lashed home into the bottom-left corner. A cruel gut-punch for United; a lifeline for West Ham.
Old Trafford groaned, the tension rising in the dying minutes. United almost snatched it back when Casemiro’s ball dropped for Bruno Fernandes, but the captain’s mis-hit volley soared over the bar another moment that summed up United’s wastefulness.
The final whistle confirmed another missed opportunity. United remain stuck in the mid-table traffic, crestfallen after failing to convert dominance into victory. West Ham stay in the relegation zone but will cherish this point, earned through belief, bravery and a late spark from Magassa.
With no time to dwell, United turn their attention to Monday’s trip to bottom-placed Wolves a match that now carries even greater weight. West Ham head to Brighton on Sunday, still searching for the consistency that has evaded them all season.
