Report: United 0 West Ham 1

Wednesday 22 September 2021 21:57

Manchester United were knocked out of the Carabao Cup in the third round at Old Trafford, as West Ham gained revenge for last Sunday's Premier League defeat by the Reds at the London Stadium.

It was almost a completely different team sheet from the one at the weekend after both managers made wholesale changes for this midweek cup tie.

There were 21 fresh names on duty in the starting line-ups from our 2-1  away win, with only West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen making the XIs four days on.

The Hammers took a ninth-minute lead with a goal from Manuel Lanzini and ultimately survived United's repeated attempts to equalise, on a tense and unfortunately disappointing night at Old Trafford that did not go our way.

United's focus will now return to the Premier League following an encouraging start to the top-flight campaign - joint top of the table with 13 points from 15 - with Aston Villa set to visit Old Trafford for a 12:30 BST kick-off this Saturday.

United registered 27 shots to West Ham's nine at Old Trafford, but disappointingly lost the game.

FIRST HALF - HAMMERS TAKE AN EARLY LEAD 

Despite all the changes, both sides were in high-tempo mode from the off, but it was West Ham who struck the early opening blow.

The visitors had posted a warning down the right-hand side after three minutes and almost took the lead from a cut back that Jarrod Bowen hit just wide.

But they got it right after nine minutes when Andriy Yarmolenko powered past Alex Telles and fed Manuel Lanzini, who did what Bowen couldn’t and beat Dean Henderson in the Reds goal.

United’s response was exciting and instant with Sunday’s match-winning hero against his former loan club, Jesse Lingard, appealing for a penalty when Mark Noble appeared to pull him back. There was no spot kick but Juan Mata was quick to have another go seconds later and struck a terrific shot that hit the bar.

Then Anthony Martial rolled a shot in the box just wide after being set up by captain Nemanja Matic.

That was all in a frenzied opening quarter of an hour.

Lingard was a pain in his one-time temporary colleagues again after 27 minutes when his drive from outside of the box forced a save from goalkeeper Alphonse Areola.

It was all United in terms of the attacking threat with Telles and Martial adding to the shots on target count.

Donny van de Beek, who'd been having a busy game, created an opening for himself with neat footwork after 43 minutes but dragged his left foot shot wide.

A late one-two move between Jadon Sancho and Martial almost reaped dividends, but United couldn't break down West Ham before the interval and get back on level terms.

 

SECOND HALF - REDS ON THE ATTACK BUT WEST HAM HOLD ON

There was an inventive assist from Mata after 50 minutes as the Reds looked to get back into the match early on in the second period.

Our Spanish forward cleverly lifted a pass over the West Ham defence and Sancho volleyed just over in front of the Stretford End.

Diogo Dalot almost marked his first start of the campaign with a goal after 57 minutes as he drove into the visitor’s box and drilled his shot wide.

Yarmolenko smashed a shot off target to suggest the Hammers might just add to their tally, despite it mainly being the Reds on the front foot. It was enough for Solskjaer to decide he needed to inject something new into our attack and the manager brought Mason Greenwood on after 61 minutes for Mata.

The substitution almost paid off immediately because, within seconds, Greenwood had forced a save out of Areola.

It revived the Old Trafford crowd and the fans sensed they could roar the Reds onto victory in this tie. Lingard also responded to the noise and also saw a shot saved.

Solskjaer made a double substitution in the 72nd minute by swapping Telles and Lingard for Anthony Elanga and Bruno Fernandes in the hope of a dramatic finale.

But as United pressed, West Ham broke away and instead of being an architect Bruno raced back to halt a dangerous two versus one situation that threatened to end all hopes of a comeback.

With Greenwood looking dangerous every time he was on the ball, a late rescue act led to a tense ending.

It was certainly thrilling as the crowd urged United on but it was Dean Henderson who kept the tie alive and the potential for penalties, as he denied Noble and Bowen in the closing minutes as the Hammers kept breaking out. Yarmolenko also hit the post before our goalkeeper’s heroics.

But United, for all the efforts, could not stretch the tie out into a penalty shoot-out.

Bruno Fernandes was one of three replacements who tried to find a breakthrough in the second half.

LINE-UPS AND MATCH INFO

United: Henderson; Telles (Elanga 72), Lindelof, Bailly, Dalot; Matic, Van De Beek; Sancho, Mata (Greenwood 61), Lingard (Fernandes 72); Martial.

Subs not used: Heaton, Jones, Wan-Bissaka, McTominay, Elanga, .

West Ham: Areola, Yarmolenko, Lanzini (Fornals 69), Dawson, Noble (C), Bowen, Diop, Fredericks (Coufal 17), Masuaku (Vlasic 69), Johnson, Kral.

Subs not used: Randolph, Zouma, Ogbonna, Benrahma

Goals: Lanzini (9)

Bookings: Noble

Attendance: 72,468

Recommended: