Aasai

Man Utd began the game with fire and Rasmus Hojlund hit the post early on in the game. That was a warning shot, and five minutes on, something real happened. What could have been an ordinary chain startled when Alphonse Areola knocked the ball off-target in the drive of Ayden Heaven which was brought down by a scramble before giving the Red Devils led penalty. Fernandes came to the rescue and scored and gave his team an early lead of 1-0 after a couple of seconds into the game.

In the remaining first half, West Ham too had their periods to dominate, and Man Utd tended to be well-grounded in formation retaining. The Red Devils, however, looked the most comfortable during the half, with the goal of Amad Diallo being struck out as the winger went a step or two offside receiving the through ball.

Fernandes got another early opportunity after the pelting, but this time he fired directly at Areola but it was now the Portuguese superstar who got his revenge after another howler by the goalkeeper. Areola was washed his hands of it after plopping a pass directly to Kobbie Mainoo who was then rounded by Fernandes and slid home with a curler on the 52nd minute to make it 2-0 to Man Utd.

In the 63 rd minute West Ham replied when Jarrod Bowen scored, which entailed that the rest of the game was something to play out to chase. However, soon, Man Utd completely rotated the line-up as Ruben Amorim included 10 substitutions introducing experienced players Casemiro, Mason Mount and Harry Maguire and young talents Chido Obi, Diego Leon, Jack Fletcher and Tyler Fredricson. The tempo of the game was brought down since then when the team withstood some late opportunities of West Ham to retain the win.