Man Utd edge nearer to Champions Group after West Ham draw
Manchester United edged closer to qualifying for the Champions Group due to Mason Greenwood rescued a good 1-1 draw against West Ham about Wednesday.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side fell in back of to Michail Antonio's penalty in the first 1 / 2 at Old Trafford.
But teenage forward Greenwood struck after the interval to lift up United into third place in the Premier Group.
United are before fourth put Chelsea on aim difference, but the Blues would restore third if indeed they avoid defeat against champions Liverpool down the road Wednesday.
Regardless of the result at Anfield, United will finish in the very best four if indeed they draw or win within their decisive showdown with fifth put Leicester on Sunday.
United are one level ahead of Leicester going into their last game of the growing season for the King Vitality Stadium.
Solskjaer's team were well below their finest against West Ham, however they are now unbeaten in 13 group matches and will complete an impressive surge in to the Champions League if indeed they emerge unscathed at Leicester.
They can also be eligible for Europe's elite golf club competition if indeed they win the Europa League in August.
Solskjaer could have been relieved there have been zero costly mistakes from David De Gea following the United keeper retained his place.
The Spaniard made two embarrassing errors that resulted in goals in United's 3-1 FA Cup semi-final defeat against Chelsea on Sunday.
But De Gea has started every little league video game since Solskjaer took fee and the United supervisor backed him in a pre-match interview, telling: "Form might be temporary but class is everlasting is that telling and he's a truly top keeper."
West Ham's level ensured they are actually mathematically certain in order to avoid relegation.
Beaten for the very first time in 20 fits in all competitions by the weekend, United experienced virtually no time to sulk because they looked to protect that lucrative Champions Group berth.
United realized draws against West Ham and Leicester will be enough to protected a top four finish.
After their sluggish present at Wembley, Solskjaer's guys made a more enterprising commence this time around and West Ham keeper Lukasz Fabianski was tested twice within the first four minutes.
- Mature Greenwood -
Anthony Martial's stinging strike from just inside penalty spot forced an excellent preserve from Fabianski, who then plunged to his right to keep out Greenwood's effort.
Rashford tried his fortune from 30 yards, however the forward's powerful travel was too near Fabianski, even though Greenwood's close-range shot was first blocked by Ogbonna.
De Gea had been a good spectator for the primary 40 minutes so when he was finally called into actions, Antonio's header lacked the energy to trouble him.
But De Gea still had to choose the ball out from the net moments before half-period after Paul Pogba handed West Ham a good penalty.
Declan Rice's free-kick was smashed direct at Pogba, who instinctively stuck up his arms to safeguard his face.
Despite Pogba dropping to the turf as though he had been hit in the top, VAR confirmed the France midfielder's handball.
Antonio took the spot-kick, sending De Gea the wrong manner for his sixth aim found in his last three video games.
United had let the 1st half drift out of their control, but Greenwood dragged them level with another demonstration of his impressive maturity in the 51st minute.
Dropping deep to switch passes with Martial, the 18-year-old stored his composure to drill a scientific finish past Fabianski out of 12 yards.
Zero teenager has ever scored more goals within a season in all competitions for United than Greenwood, whose 17th of the growing season moved him level with George Best, Brian Kidd and Wayne Rooney.
With Bruno Fernandes struggling to exert his usual influence, United fell away after Greenwood's goal and De Gea made a exceptional tip-over from Jarrod Bowen's venomous blast before Rice shot narrowly wide from 25 yards.
