LONDON – West Ham were seconds away from a massive Premier League win on Tuesday night, but Manchester United had the last word. Substitute Benjamin Šeško smashed home a brilliant equalizer in the sixth minute of added time to earn a 1-1 draw at London Stadium. His sharp volley wiped out Tomáš Souček’s second-half opener and kept Michael Carrick unbeaten as interim manager, while the Hammers stayed stuck near the relegation zone.
The game had a clear story. West Ham, under pressure in the table, defended with purpose and made one big moment count. United had more of the ball and more territory, but they couldn’t find a clean way through for long stretches. That changed late, when Carrick’s bench call paid off dramatically.
Souček Puts West Ham Ahead
The first half felt tight and cautious. United controlled possession, but West Ham’s shape held firm, with Konstantinos Mavropanos and Axel Disasi doing well to shut down space in the box. Chances were limited, although Joshua Zirkzee came close when his header drifted just wide.
West Ham struck soon after the break. In the 50th minute, a set-piece situation turned messy in the area, and Souček reacted quickest to a loose ball. The Czech midfielder finished from close range, sending the home crowd into full voice and giving West Ham a lead they looked ready to protect.
After the goal, the Hammers dropped deeper and made United work for everything. Bruno Fernandes tried to speed things up through midfield, while Diogo Dalot and the other wide players kept swinging in crosses, but clear looks stayed rare.
Šeško Delivers Off the Bench
As stoppage time rolled on, West Ham were holding on. Carrick had already brought on Šeško to add more presence up front, and the change flipped the ending.
In the 96th minute, United broke quickly, and Bryan Mbeumo delivered a sharp cross toward the far post. Šeško found space, met it cleanly, and fired an instinctive volley past the West Ham keeper. The away end erupted, while West Ham players dropped in disbelief after being so close to three points.
Carrick called the finish “unbelievable” after the match, pointing to Šeško’s calm in a high-pressure moment. For West Ham, it felt like a painful one, because the win would have eased the pressure in their relegation fight.
Match Stats Snapshot
United finished with the edge in possession and passing, but West Ham were organized and nearly made their single big chance stand up.
West Ham United Match Statistics
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Possession | 35% |
| Total Shots | 7 |
| Shots on Target | 3 |
| Passes Completed | 260 |
| Tackles Won | N/A |
| Corners | N/A |
| Goal Scorers | Tomáš Souček (50′) |
| Key Moments | Souček finishes after a set-piece scramble, strong defending until stoppage time |
Manchester United Match Statistics
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Possession | 65% |
| Total Shots | 9 |
| Shots on Target | 3 |
| Passes Completed | 542 |
| Tackles Won | N/A |
| Corners | N/A |
| Goal Scorers | Benjamin Šeško (90’+6′) |
| Key Moments | Šeško’s late volley, sustained pressure, and several half-chances after the break |
The result stretches United’s unbeaten run under Carrick, but it also stops them from making it five straight league wins in this spell. West Ham, though, will see it as two points dropped, with difficult games still to come.
This match came down to small moments. West Ham defended well and took their chance, but one late cross and one clean strike changed everything. United move forward with confidence, while West Ham now needs results fast to climb out of danger.
