The build-up to the match focused heavily on Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim, who openly admitted he had “borrowed” ideas from rival coaches to improve his side’s set-piece efficiency. That strategy had helped United climb level with Arsenal for the most set-piece goals this season, while West Ham had conceded more from dead-ball situations than any other Premier League team.
Yet in a twist of irony, it was West Ham who capitalized on a set piece. When Jarrod Bowen’s flicked header was cleared off the line by Noussair Mazraoui, the ball fell perfectly for Magassa, who smashed in his first goal for the club.
Even though the equaliser did not lift West Ham out of the relegation zone, it denied Manchester United the chance to move into fifth place.
Before that, United looked set for an important victory thanks to Diogo Dalot, who netted his first Premier League goal in more than two years. Dalot controlled a deflected shot from Casemiro and calmly slotted past Alphonse Areola after 58 minutes.
But despite taking the lead, United delivered a sluggish display, leaving the home crowd frustrated. At the final whistle, scattered boos echoed around Old Trafford.
“𝑾𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒍,” 𝑨𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒎 𝒂𝒅𝒎𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅, 𝒓𝒆𝒇𝒍𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒕𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌.
Amorim’s Youth Hesitation Highlighted as Heaven Struggles
Amorim has been criticized this season for his reluctance to trust academy players. On a night when youngsters Kobbie Mainoo and Shea Lacey remained unused on the bench, the scrutiny intensified through the performance of 19-year-old Ayden Heaven.
Given his first start of the campaign, Heaven endured a difficult evening. He was easily turned by veteran striker Callum Wilson early on and was lucky not to be punished when Wilson failed to control the ball with only the goalkeeper ahead. Minutes later, Heaven clattered into Bowen and earned a booking.
United themselves were shaky in the opening stages. Joshua Zirkzee’s inventive attempt was cleared off the line by former United defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and a Bruno Fernandes strike clipped the outside of the post.
With chances limited, Dalot’s goal appeared enough — but once again, United’s inability to close out games proved costly.
Just over a week earlier, after losing to 10-man Everton, Amorim admitted his side were “far from where they need to be.”
This latest result only strengthened that argument.
Wan-Bissaka Impresses on Return as West Ham Show Determination
Former Manchester United full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka made a crucial impact on his return to Old Trafford. After a £50m transfer in 2019, Wan-Bissaka delivered mixed performances during his time at United, and his form has similarly fluctuated since joining West Ham. Now used as a defender again under Nuno Espírito Santo, he put in a disciplined display, headlining it with a goal-line clearance to deny Zirkzee.
“𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒑 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒖𝒔,” 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒅 𝑵𝒖𝒏𝒐 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒄𝒉.
Magassa, meanwhile, is beginning to show why West Ham invested £17m to bring him from Monaco. Making just his eighth appearance, he reacted instantly to Mazraoui’s clearance, drilling the ball past Senne Lammens before celebrating passionately in front of the travelling fans.
His hunger and attitude could prove vital in West Ham’s battle to avoid relegation.
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