September 19, (THEWILL) – Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea made last-minute penalty to ensure Manchester United took all three points in their 2-1 win over West Ham on Sunday.
De Gea saved the 9th-minute penalty taken by Mark Noble, who was introduced into the game just to take the penalty.
The penalty, which was first waved off was given after a VAR review showed that Jarrod Bowen’s cross had struck the outstretched arm of Luke Shaw.
For the better part of the game, it was all United with the possession but the Hammers took the lead on the half hour mark. Said Benrahma aimed a shot from 20 yards to David De Gea’s left and just when it looked the keeper had it covered, the ball took a wicked deflection off defender Raphael Varane to end just inside the goalkeeper’s right hand.
United levelled matters five minutes later with another goal made in Portugal. Bruno Fernandes weaved in a fine in-swinger from the left which his compatriot, Cristiano Ronaldo, turned goal-ward after beating the offside trap. Even though the Hammers keeper Lukas Fabianski saved the initial attempt on the volley, Ronaldo made sure with the rebound for his third in three games.
Fabianski was having a tough day in goal even as he tried to limit the damage with some good goalkeeping. At the other end, West Ham also continued to knock on the visitor’s goal trying to find a way to inch ahead of the Red Devils.
The diving antics of Ronaldo, which was a feature of his first time in the English Premier League, must have been in the referee’s mind when the Portuguese legend went to ground claiming a penalty three times in the latter stages of the game but on all occasions referee Martin Atkinson waved away his appeals.
Yet, United still found a way to claim victory as the failure of West Ham to sign last season’s loan star from Old Trafford, Jesse Lingard, came back to haunt them when he curled a strike into the top corner in the 89th minute to give United the lead.
That was when the opportunity for at least a point came for the hosts with the penalty in the fourth minute of injury time. De Gea however ensured the Red Devils won with a save.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
