BREAKING NEWS: Manchester United may have emerged victorious in their match against West Ham, but the bitter taste of VAR controversy still lingered. The team felt they had been cheated by the referee’s decision to favor West Ham even when there was a hard tackle that led to united superstar been taking off the pitch. While the win was a welcome one, the sense of injustice hung heavy in the air. For United, the victory was a bittersweet one, tainted by the specter of VAR. “Victory Bitter-Sweet for Manchester United as VAR Clouds Loom Large”
In a convincing Premier League triumph against West Ham, Alejandro Garnacho secured a brace, while Rasmus Hojlund showcased his exceptional goal-scoring prowess, marking his 21st birthday with a significant achievement as the youngest Manchester United player to score in four consecutive games. Hojlund’s contribution, his fifth goal in the last six matches, propelled Erik ten Hag’s team to their fourth victory in five games across all competitions in 2024.
A pivotal moment unfolded when Garnacho’s strike deflected off Nayef Aguerd, following a surprising miss from Emerson Palmieri at the other end. Despite West Ham’s energetic attacking display, their struggles in delivering the final ball became evident as the match progressed.
As West Ham’s efforts waned, Garnacho capitalized on a mistake from Kalvin Phillips, the new Hammers signing. Scott McTominay and Hojlund seized the opportunity, pressuring Phillips and orchestrating a setup for Garnacho, who executed a clever low finish beyond Lukasz Fabianski, who replaced the injured Alphonse Areola at half-time.
The only setback for Manchester United was the injury to Lisandro Martinez, who left the field limping after attempting to play through a knee problem sustained during a clash with Vladimir Coufal.
Following this triumph, Ten Hag’s side ascended from eighth to sixth in the league standings, surpassing both Brighton and West Ham. Conversely, West Ham’s struggles persisted, as they remained without a win in all competitions in the new calendar year.
