Benjamin Sesko’s 96th-minute equaliser shattered West Ham’s resistance at the death as Manchester United escaped with a dramatic 1-1 draw at the London Stadium.
Michael Carrick appeared set to suffer his first loss since returning to Old Trafford, but Sesko struck late once again to earn United a point.
The opening half was tight and cautious. Crysencio Summerville was denied by Senne Lammens, while Luke Shaw saw a goalbound effort cleared off the line by former team-mate Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
West Ham made the breakthrough just five minutes after the restart. Jarrod Bowen exploited Shaw being out of position and delivered a low cross from the right, which Tomas Soucek deftly flicked between Lammens’ legs.
Casemiro, on his 150th appearance for United, thought he had drawn the visitors level shortly after the hour mark, but his header was disallowed following a marginal offside decision.
The contest opened up in stoppage time. Joshua Zirkzee glanced a header wide before Lammens produced a crucial one-on-one save to deny substitute Callum Wilson after a rapid counter-attack.
Sesko, however, had the final word. With a minute remaining, he drifted into space inside the area and calmly guided Bryan Mbeumo’s cross into the net.
The result keeps United in the Premier League’s top four, while West Ham remain 18th, two points adrift of Nottingham Forest, whom they would have drawn level with but for the late blow.
Data Debrief: United leave it late again
Late goals were a hallmark of United during Carrick’s playing days, and for the second time since he replaced Ruben Amorim, his side benefited from a decisive stoppage-time strike by Sesko, who had also scored the winner against Fulham.
Timed at 95:11, Sesko’s equaliser was the latest result-changing goal West Ham have conceded at home in the Premier League on record (since 2006-07). The Hammers have now dropped 20 points from winning positions this season.
United lacked attacking sharpness, managing only nine shots worth 0.63 expected goals. It was just the second occasion this campaign they have failed to reach double figures in a Premier League match, having also recorded five against Tottenham in September.
There was still a milestone for Soucek, who netted his 39th top-flight goal to become the Czech Republic’s all-time leading scorer in the Premier League, moving ahead of Patrik Berger.
