Erik ten Hag was left furious after a controversial late penalty saw West Ham inflict a damaging 2-1 defeat on Manchester United.
Jarrod Bowen scored the winner from the spot two minutes into stoppage time after a long VAR review for Matthijs de Ligt’s challenge on Danny Ings.
Referee David Coote took his time in studying the pitchside monitor before awarding the spot-kick, to the horror of United’s underfire manager and his players.
In a curious match which will crank up the noise surrounding Ten Hag’s future, United dominated a first half in which West Ham were terrible.
Yet Crysencio Summerville climbed off the bench at half-time to fire the Hammers into an unlikely lead.
That was quickly cancelled out by Casemiro’s header, but VAR’s dramatic late intervention cost United, and possibly Ten Hag, dearly.
United almost took the lead in less than two minutes when Christian Eriksen fed Bruno Fernandes, who squared the ball for Alejandro Garnacho to hit a first-time shot from the edge of the area which crashed against the crossbar.
Fernandes should have opened the scoring when he was left unmarked in the area to meet a lofted ball from Casemiro, but he sent his header over the top.
West Ham were leaving huge gaps at the back, but the next United opportunity provided a comical miss from Diogo Dalot.
Fernandes lifted the ball over the top and Dalot knocked it to the side of Lukasz Fabianski before bearing down on an empty goal, only to somehow blaze wide from 12 yards.
There was still time for Hammers midfielder Edson Alvarez to nod a corner against his own crossbar and Fabianski to claw out Casemiro’s free header before a first half of breathtaking ineptitude, chiefly – but not solely – from the hosts, came to an end.
Changes from Hammers boss Julen Lopetegui – also under scrutiny following their slow start to the season – were inevitable and Lucas Paqueta, Konstantinos Mavropanos and the ineffective Carlos Soler were sacrificed.
Jean-Clair Todibo, Tomas Soucek and Summerville – whom many had expected to start in the wake of Mohammed Kudus’ ban for his Tottenham meltdown – were sent on.
The winger’s arrival lifted the team, and the crowd, and West Ham should have scored when Michail Antonio reached the byline and pulled the ball back to Emerson Palmieri, who missed his kick in front of goal.
However, West Ham did take the lead in the 74th minute when Bowen crossed towards Ings, who scuffed his shot across goal from where Summerville slid in to convert at the far post.
The summer signing from Leeds raced to the home dugout to celebrate his first Hammers goal with his suspended team-mate Kudus.
However, the lead lasted just seven minutes before Dalot’s header back across goal was helped on by Joshua Zirkzee and nodded home by Casemiro.
But as time ticked down Ings tumbled in the area, and although play continued for some time and there were barely any protests from West Ham, a VAR check was called.
The PGMOL’s official explanation was that there was “sufficient contact” on the leg of Ings, prompting VAR Michael Oliver to call Coote to the monitor.
Coote eventually pointed to the spot, Bowen did the rest and United’s season plumbed new depths in the process.
Lucy Bronze refused to count Chelsea out of the Champions League after they went down 4-1 to holders Barcelona in the first leg of their semi-final in Spain.Ewa Pajor fired the hosts in front in the 35th minute at the Johan Cruyff Stadium and substitute Claudia Pina made it two with 20 minutes left.Sandy Baltimore pulled one back in the 74th minute, but Irene Paredes got Barcelona’s third wi...
Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold says his late winner at Leicester, which put his side on the brink of the Premier League title, will live with him forever.Alexander-Arnold made a stunning return from injury as he climbed off the bench to score the decisive 76th-minute goal in the visitors’ 1-0 triumph at the King Power Stadium.It relegated Leicester and left the Reds needing just t...
Chelsea gave themselves plenty of work to do at Stamford Bridge after substitute Claudia Pina’s brace inspired holders Barcelona to a 4-1 victory in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final in Spain.Ewa Pajor opened the scoring for the hosts in the 35th minute at the Johan Cruyff Stadium after Blues keeper Hannah Hampton had saved a ninth-minute penalty.Pina scored her first with 2...
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has his sights set on history after his side moved another step closer to a sixth treble in nine years.A 5-0 Hampden win over St Johnstone set up a Scottish Gas Scottish Cup final against Aberdeen on May 24.Rodgers and Jock Stein have both completed two trebles, while Martin O’Neill, Neil Lennon and Ange Postecoglou have one each, and Celtic won three trophies ...
Trent Alexander-Arnold put the Premier League title champagne on ice for Liverpool after scoring the only goal of the game in a 1-0 win which confirmed Leicester’s relegation.Alexander-Arnold, making his comeback from injury, climbed off the bench to score the 76th-minute winner at the King Power and put his side on the brink of glory.The Reds will get their hands on a 20th top-flight title ...
Ruben Amorim admitted Manchester United “lack a lot” as their ongoing struggles in front of goal saw them return to earth with a bump in Sunday’s Premier League defeat at home to Wolves.Three days on from the dramatic 5-4 Europa League quarter-final comeback win against Lyon, the rotated Red Devils’ positive performance counted for nothing due to their futility in the final...
Mikel Arteta said he hopes Leif Davis’ “dangerous” red-card tackle on Bukayo Saka will not stop his star winger from playing in Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final against Paris St Germain.Saka was withdrawn just 10 minutes into the second half of Arsenal’s 4-0 win at Ipswich and had an ice pack applied to his right ankle following Davis’ late challenge.Davis ...
Celtic hit four goals in 12 first-half minutes to sweep past St Johnstone and into the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup final.The holders wreaked vengeance following defeat in Perth two weeks ago as they won 5-0 to set up a return trip to Hampden to face Aberdeen on May 24.With Celtic needing just one point from their last five matches to wrap up the William Hill Premiership title, the final is set to gi...
According to a report from Fichajes, Tottenham are impressed with the performances of the 25-year-old Ghana international, and they are ready to pay €60 million in order to get the deal done. The player has 16 goal contributions this season and the opportunity to play for a big club will be quite exciting for him.There have been rumours that the player could cost around £70 million.It c...
The 23-year-old has managed to get his career back on track with a move to Marseille, and he has been outstanding this season. The former Manchester United striker has 19 goals to his name this season. According to a report from Fichajes, Liverpool would be willing to pay around €75-80 million in order to get the deal done.Greenwood will be hoping to play for a big club and the opportunity t...
- 1 Four Tottenham stars could leave this summer
- 2 PL side eyeing summer move for Rashford
- 3 Man City in pole position to secure Morgan Gibbs
- 4 Pop icon with £580M net worth makes appearance at Stamford Bridge
- 5 Big Brother legend Chanelle Hayes flaunts weight loss in red bikini
- 6 Ronaldo shows a side fans never see in tender video for their daughter birthday
- 7 Arteta makes exciting Arsenal transfer claim
- 8 Man Utd & Man City join PSG in race for Akliouche
- 9 Transfer news & rumours LIVE
- 10 Cole Palmer’s girlfriend Connie Grace dazzles in low-cut top and mini skirt