Marcus Rashford scores 100th goal for Manchester United in win over West Ham United
Marcus Rashford made it 100 goals for Manchester United on Sunday afternoon, with the Red Devils recording a 1-0 victory over West Ham United in the Premier League.
The England international’s bullet header in the 38th minute proved to be enough to overcome West Ham, who threatened an equaliser in the second half of the contest at Old Trafford.
The result has seen Erik ten Hag’s side move above Chelsea into fifth position in the table, while West Ham stay 13th, with the Hammers suffering their seventh league defeat of the campaign
Man United had a half-chance in the fourth minute when Diogo Dalot delivered an excellent low cross into a dangerous area, but Rashford took the ball away from Cristiano Ronaldo, when the Portuguese was better-placed to make contact.
Anthony Elanga then found himself in an advanced area after a clever run, but the forward sent his effort wide of the far post, with the Red Devils managing to get behind the Hammers.
Ronaldo tested the gloves of Lukasz Fabianski from distance in the 14th minute, before Rashford had one deflected just over the crossbar after breaking into the West Ham box.
Rashford then met a cross from Dalot, and Fabianski had to show good hands to keep hold of the ball, as Man United continued to threaten to make the breakthrough.
David de Gea had to make a smart save to keep out a strike from Jarrod Bowen in the 26th minute following smart work from Thilo Kehrer, but the offside flag was raised shortly after.
Man United managed to make the breakthrough in the 38th minute when Rashford got ahead of Kehrer to meet a cross from Eriksen, and his header flew into the back of the net past Fabianski.
Rashford continued to look dangerous and sent one fizzing wide of the West Ham post early in the second period, moments after Gianluca Scamacca escaped a second yellow card for a high boot on Lisandro Martinez.
Luke Shaw picked out the head of Ronaldo with a brilliant cross just past the hour, but the Portuguese’s effort was always too high, before the 37-year-old fired wide of the target moments later after Rashford had played a clever pass behind the West Ham defence
Ronaldo was becoming more involved and had a shot deflected over the crossbar in the 63rd minute, before Craig Dawson scooped one over for West Ham 20 minutes from time.
De Gea did well to hold a strike from Said Benrahma moments later, before Martinez did brilliantly to head clear ahead of Dawson at the far post in the 78th minute.
De Gea then had to keep out a powerful drive from Michail Antonio in the 82nd minute, before the Man United goalkeeper flew across his goal to keep out a header from Kurt Zouma.
West Ham were really pressing as the match headed for its final moments, but the home side were remaining strong, with Dalot particularly impressive at right-back.
Fred hit the post with a header in the 86th minute, but the miss did not prove to be crucial for the 20-time English champions, who managed to keep a clean sheet to record their seventh league victory of the campaign and make it eight games unbeaten in all competitions.
Bowen came close to levelling in the final moments, but the forward’s effort was blocked en route to goal before De Gea kept out a long-range Rice effort.
Next up for Man United is a trip to Real Sociedad in the Europa League on Thursday, before returning to Premier League action away to Aston Villa next Sunday.
West Ham, meanwhile, will face FCSB in the Europa Conference League on Thursday ahead of a home league fixture against Crystal Palace.
