72’
Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus continued their impressive goalscoring form as West Ham United beat Manchester United 2-0 to leapfrog their visitors and climb into the top six.
Bowen struck his 11th Premier League goal of the season in the 72th minute, moving joint-second in the top goalscorers’ chart alongside Mohamed Salah, just three goals behind Erling Haaland.
Six minutes later Kudus netted for the third time in two top-flight matches, and 10th time in all competitions since joining the Hammers in the summer.
Lucas Paqueta played a key role in Bowen’s strike with a brilliant through-ball, and then set up Kudus’s goal to take his tally to four assists in his last two Premier League outings.
By contrast, Man Utd had another frustrating day in attack and have now failed to score in their last four matches in all competitions. They will spend Christmas outside the top six for only the second time in 33 years.
How the match unfolded
Erik ten Hag picked a youthful Man Utd side, with five of his outfield players being academy graduates, including 19-year-old centre-back Willy Kambwala, who made his debut.
West Ham made a strong start and Emerson Palmieri tested Andre Onana with an early shot.
Man Utd grew into the match and had the best chance of the first half as Antony played in Alejandro Garnacho, who shot tamely at Alphonse Areola at the near post.
But West Ham got back on top after the break and James Ward-Prowse’s corner was met by Bowen, whose powerful header was tipped over by Onana.
West Ham broke the deadlock with a moment of magic from Paqueta, who chipped a glorious through-ball behind the defence into the path of Bowen, whose initial shot was saved but rebounded kindly to him and gifted him a simple finish.
Minutes later a mistake by Kobbie Mainoo in the midfield led to West Ham doubling their lead. The 18-year-old miscontrolled the ball, and Kudus took Paqueta’s pass in his stride before firing a right-footed shot into the bottom corner.
West Ham climb to sixth on 30 points, while Man Utd slip to eighth on 28 points.
Match officials
Referee: Stuart Attwell. Assistants: Richard West, James Mainwaring. Fourth official: Tim Robinson. VAR: Michael Oliver. Assistant VAR: Harry Lennard.
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