West Ham United’s pair of Victor Moses and Emmanuel Emenike were missing in action Wednesday night, as their side put up a spirited performance to snatch a historic 3-2 win against Manchester United, on a night Nigerian-born defender, Angelo Obinze Ogbonna starred for all 90 minutes in The Hammers’ last match at Upton Park.
While Moses and Emenike sat out the entire duration of the match on West Ham’s bench, Ogbonna was in top form, in spite of his inability to save the hosts from conceding two second half back-breaking goals from Anthony Martial.
Ogbonna’s efforts in the back-four helped The Hammers realise their hopes of a glorious send-off at The Boleyn Ground, as they move to London’s Olympic Arena next season.
However, there were initial fears that all expectations of a victorious end to their sojourn at the famous park would be cut short, when Anthony Martial struck a 51st minute equaliser.
It marked a dramatic change to the match’s tempo, as West Ham put up a frenetic start and continued same in the second half against the equally history chasing United, who entered Wednesday’s game with high hopes of jumping atop local rivals, Manchester City into fourth position on the EPL log.
A 10th minute goal by Diafra Sakho put West Ham en route to a glorious end to their days at Upton Park, but signs of a feisty night first emerged when Michail Antonio’s 20th minute effort off a header was ruled out for offside.
The hosts then saw usually reliable stars, Andy Carroll and Dimitri Payet both miss golden opportunities of making it two before the break.
At that point, United’s late arrival for the game, due to an attack on their bus by Hammers’ fans, which caused kick-off to be pushed back by 45 minutes, seemed to weigh the visitors down.
The second period started in a similar reflection of the first half’s pace, with West Ham struggling to make the best of their pressing game and looked too anxious to get the right balls through, such that Martial’s equaliser became inevitable.
Martial then played spoiler at the other end in keeping out Carroll’s header right on the line, after which the teenage wonder burst down the left flank before craftily putting the ball beyond Darren Randolph for the visitors’ second goal in the 72nd minute.
However, West Ham were not done yet, seeking at least a consolation draw for a fair ending to their Upton Park days, and Antonio offered them the much desired respite with a 76th minute equaliser.
Winston Reid, though, ensured a night of celebrations in London with a stunning 81st minute winner that sent Hammers’ fans into rapturous cheers and applause.
