West Ham United 3, Manchester United 2: Fireworks as Hammers send Boleyn Ground off with a bang
Emotional West Ham boss Slaven Bilic hailed a fitting farewell to 112 years of football at the Boleyn Ground as his side produced a dramatic fightback to boost their Europa Leagues and dent the top-four aspirations of Manchester United.
A goal from defender Winston Reid inside the final 10 minutes settled an enthralling contest after Michail Antonio drew the Hammers level following Anthony Martial’s double for the visitors, which had overturned Diafra Sakho’s early opener.
Victory moved West Ham ahead of Southampton into sixth place and enhanced their chances of starting their Olympic Stadium tenancy with European football safely secured. A win at Stoke on Sunday would seal a Europa League place.
Defeat, meanwhile, has impeded United’s bid to overtake rivals Manchester City and claim a place in next season’s Champions League. The Red Devils must now beat Bournemouth on Sunday and hope City lose at Swansea.
“This ground deserved a farewell result like that,” said Bilic. “It was a great night, it was history, not just a game. It was against them [Manchester United], fighting for Europe, late night game, a thriller, all the boxes to have a special game were ticked.
“We knew it was going to be a great night but there was a lot of pressure because we didn’t want to lose. To win against Manchester United is not easy. We were simply unbelievable. We totally deserved it.
“We have had a great season and I told the guys however it finished in the last few games it has been a great season for West Ham.”
The Hammers were winless in their past 14 Premier League matches against United, dating back to a 2-1 win in 2007, but surged into a 10th-minute lead following an enterprising attacking move.
Senegal striker Sakho languidly curled a low shot beyond United goalkeeper David de Gea and into the bottom corner of his net after Manuel Lanzini had supplied the ammunition having latched onto full-back Aaron Cresswell’s incisive pass.
West Ham’s profligacy in front of goal proved costly as United levelled six minutes after the restart when Juan Mata’s driving run forward ended with the Spaniard squaring for Martial to tap home from six yards.
Sakho wasted another opportunity from a Payet free-kick before Martial’s burst of pace saw him accelerate away from Reid and finish past culpable stopper Darren Randolph, who was anticipating a cross, at his near post in the 72nd minute.
But the Hammers retaliated less than five minutes later as Payet reclaimed the ball after his scuffed free-kick thundered into the United wall and floated a pinpoint cross to Antonio, who guided a header past De Gea.
As the final match at Upton Park was preparing to reach its crescendo, Reid met another Payet free-kick and glanced a header towards goal, which squirmed beyond a juggling De Gea, sparking pandemonium.