United Suffer Champions League Setback After West Ham Loss

United Suffer Champions League Setback After West Ham Loss

Manchester United had a night to forget in East London as a pre-match bus attack was followed by a demoralizing 3-2 loss to West Ham that leaves them rooted to the fifth spot on the table, and out of next season’s Champions League places.

With Louis Van Gaal’s side yet to get over the shock of their team bus being pelted with missiles en route to the grounds, Diafra Sakho fired the hosts ahead with a neat finish to the right of David De Gea’s goal after 10 minutes.

United team bus attacked. Image: Mirror

However, the formidable Anthony Martial – United’s best outfield player this season – then took control of proceedings with a brace to put the Red Devils in the driver’s seat.

The 20-year-old Frenchman got the equaliser after 50 minutes when De Gea’s goal-kick reached Marcus Rashford, whose pass found Juan Mata, and the Spaniard skipped past Angelo Ogbonna before squaring for Martial to tap in his 16th goal of the season, thus putting Van Gaal’s men in front by skinning Reid and dinking a shot inside the near post.

But Slaven Bilic’s men had other ideas of closing Upton Park and after Payet had picked out Michail Antonio to send a bullet header past De Gea, the Frenchman crossed for Winston Reid to notch a winning goal that sent the fans into raptures.