WEST HAM 1-1 MAN UTD: Michael Carrick’s honeymoon period looked to be over before Benjamin Sesko popped up with another late equaliser to cancel out Tomas Soucek’s opener
Benjamin Sesko’s 96th-minute equaliser broke West Ham hearts and rescued a 1-1 draw for Manchester United. Tomas Soucek’s second-half strike looked to have made the difference, and a victory would’ve taken Nuno Espirito Santo’s men within three goals of escaping the relegation zone.
But Sesko, having come off the bench, came up with a magnificent finish to convert Bryan Mbeumo’s cross and salvage a point. Michael Carrick had returned to his former club looking to make it five wins in a row, but despite the draw, he got some more late joy to keep the Red Devils in the top four.
Here are five talking points from the London Stadium.
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1. Forgettable first half
If you missed the opening 45 minutes, you didn’t miss much. Pedestrian football from both sides meant that chances were few and far between, with Senne Lammens having the most work to do of the goalkeepers when he palmed away a decent effort from the in-form Crysencio Summerville.
The visitors went closest, though, as Aaron Wan-Bissaka blocked Luke Shaw’s effort on the line after another well-worked corner routine by Carrick’s side. They had more of the possession but rarely kept it in the final third, allowing West Ham to constantly get bodies back.
To illustrate the lack of goalmouth action, the teams only generated a combined 0.28 expected goals. It was comfortably the worst half of Carrick’s short reign up to that point.
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2. West Ham duo step up
But was this about to be an even worse half for Carrick? After Luke Shaw hesistated and allowed on a punt forward to bounce, Jarrod Bowen won the ball and laid it off to Soucek.
The Czech had time and space to give it back to Bowen, who burst away down the right flank as claret shirts flooded the box. After a low cross, Soucek was there to tap home, completing a lovely move with his team-mate and finally giving those inside the London Stadium a reason to make some noise.
It was Soucek’s third goal against the Red Devils, having also netted at Old Trafford last season. The midfielder’s strike also makes him the highest-scoring Czech player in Premier League history, surpassing Patrick Berger.
3. Casemiro left ruing VAR
The Red Devils responded well to West Ham’s opener and looked to be level just after the hour mark. Kobbie Mainoo produced a superb cross to find Casemiro charging into the penalty area and he coolly headed home past Mads Hermansen, edging in front of Wan-Bissaka.
But from Casemiro’s reaction, he knew what was coming. A VAR check confirmed the offside and remained 1-0 going into the closing stages.
4. Maguire concern for Carrick
By no means an outcast under Ruben Amorim, Harry Maguire’s return from injury coincided with Carrick’s appointment and has given him a new lease of life. Imperious for much of the last five games, there was a moment of worry in the first half when the 32-year-old went into a tackle and came out clutching his hamstring.
Maguire was able to continue until being subbed in the 68th minute alongside Matheus Cunha, who’d been ineffective, and he was seen talking to staff. Leny Yoro and Benjamin Sesko were sent on while Nuno also made a change, as Callum Wilson replaced Valentin Castellanos.
5. Sesko the hero again
After coming up with the winner against Fulham two games ago, Sesko was the Red Devils’ saviour again – and this time in style. As Carrick threw the kitchen sink at it, West Ham had multiple chances to finish the game off.
And the Irons were left to rue their careless finishing when Sesko met Mbeumo’s cross at the near post and found the top right-hand corner. Carrick’s winning run is over but the honeymoon period might just continue in nearly a fortnight’s time at Everton.
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