Man United Concede Late Equaliser in 1-1 Draw with West Ham, Missing a Big Chance to Climb the Table

Analysis by Hikaru Sakamoto

December 4, 2025

Premier League Matchday 14: Manchester United Held 1–1 by West Ham After Late Equaliser

Manchester United returned to Old Trafford on December 4 after a comeback win away at Crystal Palace, hoping to build momentum and close the gap to the top four.
With Matthijs de Ligt unavailable, 19-year-old Ayden Heaven slotted into the back three, while Matheus Cunha and Noussair Mazraoui both returned to the starting XI.

United were pushed back early as West Ham pressed aggressively, but Erik ten Hag’s side eventually settled into the game. By the 28th minute, they produced a flurry of chances through Joshua Zirkzee, Cunha and Bruno Fernandes, only to be denied by poor finishing. Despite controlling long spells, United went into the break still searching for a breakthrough.

The hosts finally made their dominance count after halftime. In the 58th minute, Amad Diallo drew defenders on the right side of the box before laying the ball off toward the edge of the area. Casemiro fired low, and Diogo Dalot — perfectly positioned in the channel — brought the ball under control and slotted home calmly to give United a deserved 1–0 lead.

Ten Hag introduced Mason Mount and others in search of a second goal to kill the match, but the inability to convert chances would haunt them.
In the 84th minute, West Ham struck back from a right-side corner: Jarrod Bowen’s header forced a scramble, Mazraoui’s clearance dropped into a dangerous area, and young midfielder Sungsook Magasa reacted quickest to smash the ball in for 1–1.

United pushed desperately to restore their lead in the final minutes, but repeated half-chances went begging. The match finished 1–1 — a result that leaves United frustrated, as a win would have moved them level on points with fourth-placed Chelsea. Instead, they settle for a single point and miss the chance to record back-to-back league victories.

score
Manchester United 1–1 West Ham

scorers
58’ Diogo Dalot (MAN)
84’ Sungsook Magasa (WHU)

The Bigger Picture

What made this draw hit so hard for United supporters wasn’t the scoreline itself, but how precisely it reflected where the team currently stands. Sixty-four percent possession, long spells spent in West Ham’s half, and a deserved opening goal when Diogo Dalot finished calmly in the 58th minute — for eighty minutes, Manchester United were clearly the side in control.

And yet, the fragility never disappeared. One late corner, one loose ball, and Sungsook Magasa’s 84th-minute equaliser wiped out what should have been a straightforward step toward fifth place. Fans aren’t debating effort or statistics. They’re reacting to a familiar pattern: dominance without authority, control without closure. Some see progress compared to last season, others feel this is the ceiling of Amorim-ball already in view. What unites them is the same sense of exhaustion — the feeling that every time momentum appears, United let it slip away.

Fan Reactions

• Feels like Nuno outfoxed us again. Amorim should probably just ask him where all our weak spots are.
• Even if it’s not all on Dorgu, bringing him on that early really didn’t help.
• A point isn’t great, but it’s serviceable, I guess.
• Yeah… there goes our Champions League hopes for another season.
• Man… just exhausting.
• Wouldn’t surprise me if we hand Wolves their first win soon.
• Looks like we’re fighting Spurs for a mid-table finish this year. Still better than last season when we were flirting with the relegation zone.
• We’re “not losing as much,” but that doesn’t mean we’re actually improving. Since November: 1 win, 3 draws, 1 loss.
• We’re just weak right now. No sugar-coating it.
• There are still five games left this year — plenty of chances for the manager to get sacked if things go south.
• I just wanted us to at least hit fifth so we could feel a bit of excitement about what might come next.
• It’s honestly impressive how little we’re winning with this squad. Stubborn tactics, soft defending — terrible combo.
• Wan-Bissaka was great today. With how thin we are at wing-back, why did we ever let him go?
• Wan-Bissaka getting Man of the Match is the most ironic outcome possible.
• Dorgu and Ugarte shouldn’t be anywhere near the pitch unless we’re up by three goals.
• We were inches away from fifth, then slipped in the final ten minutes. Classic us — genuinely hilarious.
• We can’t dominate even a struggling, full-on bus-parking team. This is the ceiling of Amorim-ball. Ratcliffe needs to wake up.
• If Amorim doesn’t actually try to win these decisive matches, we’ll never get anywhere. Stop protecting a one-goal lead.
• Wan-Bissaka should’ve been sent off. Clear second yellow. Nonsense call.
• Here’s Amorim’s Premier League record at United: 41 games, 13 wins, 18 losses, 10 draws. Not inspiring.
• Every time we have momentum, we drop the ball. Mid-table is our ceiling under Amorim.
• West Ham were defending with one line at the end, and we still only got a draw. Unbelievable.
• The only dangerous periods were the first and last five minutes — the other eighty were all United.
• Amorim actually managed the game well today.
• Bruno is a separate problem. The team won’t evolve until we move on from him.
• 64% possession. Dominant stats against a bottom-half side.
• We’re actually picking up points without losing lately — that’s progress.
• A good manager transforms a team quickly. Giving Amorim more time is wasting time.
• This is the ceiling of Amorim-ball in the Premier League. Individual moments are saving us.
• Why are we this weak? Seriously, why?
• Funny thing is, we play better against top teams than teams we dominate.
• Last season we were 13th after 14 games. This year is better.
• Two more wins than last year at this point. That is progress.

What Remains

What stayed with fans after this draw was a familiar feeling: the same ending, all over again. United controlled 64 percent of the ball but settled for a one-goal lead, then dropped deeper and conceded in the final ten minutes — a pattern supporters know too well. The push toward the Champions League places slipped away, replaced by the frustration of being close to fifth without ever reaching it.

The irony of Wan-Bissaka taking Man of the Match, doubts over Dorgu and Ugarte, and renewed complaints about the Bruno issue all resurfaced. There are voices acknowledging progress — more wins than last season and points being collected without losing — but that argument no longer satisfies many. What fans want is not reassurance about improvement, but proof. The question hanging in the air is simple: is this a team that can turn 1–0 into 2–0? Right now, no clear answer exists.

Source:
sky sports
https://www.skysports.com/football/manchester-united-vs-west-ham-united/531266?utm_source=chatgpt.com