London, Oct 27: Jarrod Bowen scored an injury-time penalty to condemn Manchester United to a 2-1 defeat in the Premier League and ease pressure on manager Julen Lopetegui.
Casemiro thought he grabbed a point for the visitors when he headed home with less than 10 minutes left to cancel out Crysencio Summerville’s 74th-minute opener.But Manchester United were furious as referee David Coote was sent to the pitchside monitor by the Video Assistant Referee with three minutes remaining to review Matthijs de Ligt’s challenge on Danny Ings in the box.Despite protests from Manchester United’s players over a handball by Ings, Coote pointed to the spot and Bowen calmly converted, slotting past Andre Onana.Manchester United dominated possession and chances in the first half at London Stadium, but the visitors lacked a clinical edge and were left to rue their missed chances.After a lacklustre first half, West Ham were an improved side after the interval and peppered Manchester United’s box with attacks, and they were eventually rewarded when Summerville slid in to direct Ings’ scuffed effort into the back of the net.The result leaves Manchester United 14th in the Premier League with just three wins in their opening nine matches, piling further pressure on manager Erik ten Hag.
It is a statement win for West Ham, however, as they move one place above Manchester United after an underwhelming start to the season.Jarrod Bowen’s late penalty sealed a dramatic victory for West Ham, underscoring Manchester United’s continued struggles under Erik ten Hag. Despite dominating early play, United’s failure to capitalise proved costly, and West Ham’s resilient second-half display saw them claim a crucial three points. As pressure mounts on Ten Hag with his team slipping to 14th place, West Ham’s confidence gets a timely boost, showing signs of revival under Lopetegui as they leapfrog United in the standings.
This defeat adds to Manchester United’s early-season woes, raising questions about their consistency and finishing power in critical moments. Although Casemiro’s equaliser briefly sparked hope, the loss highlights a vulnerability in the final stages of matches, a recurring issue this season. (AP)
