Greenwood decisive for Man United as they remain responsible for the fourth game

MANCHESTER – Manchester United are at some point in the Champions League after surviving a scare against West Ham to earn a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.

United’s task on the last day of the season seems likely to become more difficult when Michail Antonio brings West Ham ahead in the first half from the penalty shoot-out. But a draw from teenage Mason Greenwood means they get one point ahead of Leicester in the finals of the matches, and will qualify for the Champions League if they avoid defeat against Brendan Rodgers’ team on Sunday, securing them a fourth place for the first time. from 2018.

positives

United seemed to run out of ideas before 18-year-old Greenwood came up with the life equalizer. The ending seemed familiar – a snapshot of the left foot that seemed to surprise Lukasz Fabianski – and the result had certainly flown into the bottom corner. It was the 17th of Greenwood’s season and his tenth in the Premier League, an extraordinary feat for a player who won’t turn 19 until October. What is most impressive, however, is the importance of its goals. These are not the final touches to global victories when the opposition threw in the towel, but the crucial goals when United needs it most.

negative

Paul Pogba will say it was instinct to lay hands on Declan Rice’s way of punishment, but it didn’t look good. VAR proved that Peter Banks correctly gave the penalty, and he was saying that there were very few complaints on the pitch. In defense of Pogba, the ball was traveling fast and he would have had very little time to think about it, but he should have just taken it on the chin. It wouldn’t have been pleasant, but that was what his team needed him to do.

Manager rating (out of 10)

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, 6 – His big decision was whether to stay with David De Gea after his disastrous performance in the English Cup semi-final, and this time the Spaniard did not disappoint him. United’s overall performance has not been as easy as it has been since the reboot, but Solskjaer’s team is moving towards Champions League football.

Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best, players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)

GK David De Gea, 7 – He did not approach the penalty but made a good save from the effort of Jarrod Bowen who suffered an evil deviation.

DF Timothy Fosu-Mensah, 5 – Compiled to right back, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka at rest. He gave the penalty kick which led to the penalty and was replaced in the middle of the half.

DF Brandon Williams, 6 – He did well to crack down on a West Ham attack that could have ended with Tomas Soucek unmarked on the back. His hands were full of Bowen.

DF Victor Lindelof, 5 – Knocked down by Michail Antonio on the back, just before the break and lucky to get by.

DF Harry Maguire, 7 – He faced a barrage of early crosses well under the pressure of Angelo Ogbonna.

MF Nemanja Matic, 6 – Useful presence in the United box and fought well against Rice and Mark Noble.

MF Paul Pogba, 5 – He should have been more courageous instead of raising his hands to block Rice’s punishment.

MF Bruno Fernandes, 6 – He did his best to make things around the box, but nothing came out and he seemed tired in the end.

FW Mason Greenwood, 8 – He punched a straight shot against Ogbonna after Brandon Williams’ cut. Good movement followed by a brusque early start to mark the equalizer.

FW Marcus Rashford, 6 – It produced a 25-yard dive effort out of nowhere that forced Fabianski to run away.

FW Anthony Martial, 7 – He forced Fabianski to save the dives in five minutes. It brilliantly rendered the equalizer with the perfect passage in Greenwood.

substitutes

DF Aaron Wan-Bissaka (for Timothy Fosu-Mensah, 45), 6 – Offered more going forward.

FW Odion Ighalo (for Marcus Rashford, 84), N / R – Not in the game long enough to make an impact.