Manchester United Fall to West Ham Due to a Controversial Penalty
Without any finishing in the first half, Manchester United succumbed in the second half to Julen Lopetegui's substitutions, West Ham's response, and a disputed penalty that rewarded the reinvention of the London team and punished the inconsistency of the visitors, who have now dropped to fourteenth place (2-1).
Erik Ten Hag's team performed better in the first half, overwhelming their opponent but failing to convert opportunities, as evidenced by missed chances from Alejandro Garnacho and Dalot. Despite creating enough chances to score, United went into halftime without goals, which proved costly.
In the second half, West Ham took control of the match, moving the action into the 'Red Devils' territory. In the 74th minute, Crysencio Summerville scored for the London team, forcing United to respond. Casemiro equalized with a well-placed header from Zirkzee, but the reaction came too late.
The lack of ambition from Manchester United was evident, as they only showed determination when they were on the brink of defeat. Although they managed to equalize, the team suffered a heavy blow with a dubious penalty called on De Ligt for a foul on Danny Ings in the closing moments, which Jarrod Bowen converted into a goal, sealing United's defeat in the 92nd minute.
Additionally, United also lost Mazraoui, who injured his right knee during the match and is awaiting medical results to determine the extent of his injury.
