West Ham were seconds away from a priceless win in their relegation fight tonight, only for Manchester United substitute Benjamin Šeško to crash in a stunning 96th-minute equaliser and snatch a 1–1 draw at the London Stadium. Tomáš Souček’s scruffy but deserved opener early in the second half had the home crowd dreaming of three points, yet the Hammers couldn’t land the knockout blow on the counter and paid the price when United’s late pressure finally produced one moment of quality.
The first half had a tense, cagey feel—West Ham compact, physical and happy to break up United’s rhythm, while United dominated possession without finding a cutting edge. Chances were scarce, but there were flickers. Luke Shaw had an effort blocked at the last moment in a crowded area, and West Ham threatened sporadically through Jarrod Bowen’s direct running down the right, forcing United to retreat quickly whenever the ball turned over. The game’s shape suited West Ham for long spells: Souček and the midfield screen clogged central lanes, the back line held its nerve, and United’s attacks often ended with hopeful deliveries rather than clear openings.
The match sparked into life immediately after the restart—and West Ham struck first. A long ball caused uncertainty in United’s back line, and with Shaw caught underneath the bounce, Bowen muscled in, helped the move along and then delivered a low cross from the right. Souček, who kept charging into the box, darted between defenders and poked a close-range finish through the goalkeeper’s legs to make it 1–0. It was a goal built on aggression and simple intent, and it reflected West Ham’s willingness to gamble forward at the right time.
United tried to respond with more urgency, pushing their full-backs higher and asking Bruno Fernandes to play earlier passes in behind. They thought they’d levelled when Casemiro met a deep delivery with a beautifully guided header into the corner, but the goal was ruled out for offside after a check, with the midfielder just ahead of the last defender when the ball was played. That decision only added to the tension, and West Ham dug in deeper, looking increasingly dangerous on the break as United committed numbers forward.
As the clock ran down, West Ham had moments that should have sealed it. Bowen and the supporting runners found space in transition, forcing a couple of desperate blocks and scrambles in the United area, but the final pass or finish never arrived. United, meanwhile, threw on extra attackers and began swinging crosses into the box with greater frequency. Joshua Zirkzee came agonisingly close in stoppage time, steering a clever header across goal that drifted inches wide, a warning shot that West Ham failed to heed.
Then came the twist. In the sixth minute of added time, Bryan Mbeumo delivered an inswinging ball from the right, and Šeško—arriving at pace near the far side of the six-yard box—adjusted his body brilliantly to strike a first-time finish high into the net. It was a ruthless piece of execution from a player introduced to change the game, and it instantly flipped the mood: West Ham players collapsed in disbelief, United’s bench sprinted in celebration, and the home crowd roared its frustration at letting the win slip so late.
After the game, West Ham boss Nuno Espírito Santo spoke with the tone of a manager torn between pride and anger—proud of the organisation and effort, but furious that his side couldn’t close the match out after defending so well for so long. He pointed to the need for better game management in the final minutes, especially once West Ham had chances to make it 2–0 on the counter. United interim boss Michael Carrick, meanwhile, admitted his team weren’t sharp enough for long periods and struggled to create clean chances, but he praised their persistence and mentality to keep going until the last moment—adding that the late equaliser should serve as a reminder of the standards required if they want to stay in the Champions League mix.
For West Ham, it felt like two points dropped rather than one gained, a damaging “nearly” in a tight scrap near the bottom. For United, it was a messy night that still ended with a vital return—proof they can find a way even when the performance isn’t flowing, and a point salvaged by a finish that will be replayed for a long time.
