HAMMER BLOW
Man Utd 1 West Ham 0: Last-gasp Marcus Rashford strike seals vital win for United in top-four hunt in blow to Hammers
MARCUS RASHFORD struck with the last kick of Ralfie-time to send United back into pole position for a top four finish.
And what a result it was for the interim manager, whose three substitutes ALL combined to tee up the at-the-death winner.
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In truth, United were stumbling and stuttering their way to the most tepid of draws, with just 27 seconds of the three added minutes to play.
But then Cristiano Ronaldo fed Anthony Martial on the left, who continued the move to fellow replacement Edinson Cavani even wider on the flank.
The Uruguayan drilled over a low cross and there was Rashford – a 62nd minute sub for Anthony Elanga – to tap in from bang in front of an empty net.
It sent Old Trafford wild – once VAR confirmed the goal would stand – and left the Hammers shaking their heads in disbelief at being denied a point, which was the very least they deserved.
True, United had created most of what passed for a chance in the previous 92 minutes, but in the whole it was the most turgid of stalemates to that point.
A top four finish? You wouldn’t have wagered too much on the Reds managing a Europa League-placed one beforehand.
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Ronaldo had gone within a whisker of reaching a peach of a delivery from Alex Telles, throwing himself but just failing to connect.
He was on the deck in front of goal again soon after, this time claiming it was courtesy of a shove from West Ham's Kurt Zouma.
Yet referee Jonathan Moss waved away the protests, leaving Ronaldo throwing his arms around in anger and disappointment.
Most of Old Trafford felt the same, to be honest, after the most dismal of afternoons, until Rashford pounced to seal the most amazing – and unlikely – of finishes.
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