West Ham ease to 2-0 victory over poor Manchester United
West Ham United eased to victory over Manchester United with a comfortable 2-0 win at the London Stadium.
Andriy Yarmolenko turned and finished into the bottom corner with two minutes to go before half time to score the opening goal of the game in a poor first half. Aaron Cresswell then secured the points with a stunning free kick with six minutes to go that beat David de Gea.
West Ham and Manchester United came into the match level on eight points from their first fives games and knew that a win for either could see them in the top four by end of the weekend.
It was a slow start to the game with neither side able to create any clear cut chances.
Nemanja Matic with the first effort of the game, a long range strike straight into the hands of West Ham goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.
Man United had plenty of possession in the first half but were struggling to make the most of it.
Mark Noble had a half chance for West Ham on the edge of their opponents’ penalty area. Unfortunately it was tame and easily held by de Gea.
The opening goal came with just two minutes to go before half time. Mark Noble found Felipe Anderson's on the edge of the United penalty area and his first time pass found Yarmolenko who struck the ball hard into the bottom corner with his left foot for his second goal of the season.
An uninspiring first half came to a close with the score 1-0 to the home side.
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Ole Gunnar Solskaer’s side started the second half with a lot more pace an urgency and they had a fantastic chance to equalise with just a couple of minutes played.
Scott McTominay’s dangerous low ball across the Hammers’ penalty area was met on the stretch by Juan Mata who couldn’t find the target from a couple of yards out.
United’s urgency didn’t last for long and their misery was compounded when Marcus Rashford left the field with an injury.
West Ham almost doubled their advantage when Felipe Anderson was threaded through on goal, but de Gea made the save at his near post.
The Red Devils were searching for an equaliser and they missed a glorious chance with twenty minutes to go. Defender Harry Maguire found the ball, unmarked from a couple of yards out but his shot was saved by Fabianski’s legs when it looked easier to score.
Manuel Pellegrini’s side doubled their advantage with six minutes left to play. Ashley Young brought down Mark Noble on the edge of the United box and defender Cresswell stepped up the power the ball past de Gea and into the top corner of the net.
The Spanish goalkeeper got a hand to the ball but couldn’t keep it out as the away side trailed by two goals to nil.
That’s how it finished, a deserved win for West Ham who claimed their third win of the season, as United crashed to their second Premier League defeat of the campaign.
Next up for West Ham is Oxford United of League One in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday. Manchester United are away to Rochdale in the same competition.
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