Manchester United does not shine but has a hell of a mind. The Red Devils snatched victory in extremis against West Ham on Saturday, during the 23rd day of the Premier League (1-0). In a double-locked shock, they were clumsy for a long time, but ended up finding the fault after additional time by Marcus Rashford (90th + 3). It’s meager but enough to carry out an excellent operation, because Ralf Rangnick’s men overtake those of David Moyes and take 4th place.
If this duel between contenders for places for the next Champions League started at a good pace with a great burst of energy on both sides, it was quickly necessary to become disillusioned. West Ham retreated into their own half to block while Manchester United put their foot on the ball but lacked fluidity and attacking inspiration. The Red Devils proved unable to worry Alphonse Areola who was playing his first game of the season in the league.
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The French goalkeeper was also able to count on a solid Kurt Zouma, back from injury after ten missed matches. At the other end of the field, David De Gea was not more solicited by a much too lonely Michail Antonio and the first period ended without the slightest shot on target, nor the slightest opportunity.
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The intensity went up a notch on the restart with more enterprising Mancunians and Fred saw Areola divert his shot (49th). Raphaël Varane, he narrowly missed the target on his uncrossed head after a corner (58th). On the hour mark, Ralf Rangnick launched Rashford in place of young Anthony Elanga, scorer at Brentford in the middle of the week (1-3 victory) but too shy this Saturday.
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After seeing Antonio finally take the visitors’ first shot on target without surprising De Gea (77th) and his disappointing playmaker Bruno Fernandes chaining shots next to or above the target (64th, 78th), Rangnick decided to launch Edinson Cavani and Anthony Martial (82nd) to force the decision in a finally unbridled end to the match.
Tomas Soucek almost opened the scoring in favor of the visitors but his uncrossed header from a corner only flirted with the right post of De Gea (87th). Areola, he could not cope with the small recovery at close range from Rashford on a service from Cavani (1-0, 90th + 3), launched by Martial. As in the first leg (1-2), Manchester United overcome West Ham on the wire and have a good week just before the cut in England.
Newcastle finally wins back
Last weekend, the Hammers lost to Leeds (2-3), but Marcelo Bielsa’s Peacocks were unable to confirm against Newcastle on Saturday. They were even surprised by a free kick from Jonjo Shelvey who deceived an ill-inspired Illan Meslier (75th). The Magpies won their second success of the season in the league after that against Burnley on December 4 (1-0) and went from 19th to 18th place.
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