Chapter 405: Expanding the Lead
At 5:15 PM local time on January 2, 2017, Manchester United faced West Ham United away.
In the last match, Manchester United secured a 3-1 victory over Middlesbrough, ending 2016 on a high note and setting a Premier League half-season points record, boosting the team's morale. Naturally, United hoped to start 2017 with a win in their first match of the year.
Since their promotion from the Championship in the 2011-2012 season, West Ham United had consistently remained in the Premier League, typically finishing mid-table—safe from relegation but not challenging for the title or European competitions.
Last season, West Ham achieved their best result since returning to the Premier League, finishing seventh and qualifying for the Europa League playoffs, only to be eliminated in the qualifying rounds.
Before this season, West Ham was seen as a dark horse with ambitions for a Champions League spot, having bolstered their squad with 11 new signings, including the permanent transfer of Manuel Lanzini.
However, their start to the season was unexpectedly poor. In the first six matches, West Ham managed only one win and five losses, sinking into the relegation zone.
Injuries to key players like Dimitri Payet and Andy Carroll impacted the team, but the influx of new players also required time for manager Bilic to integrate them. Moreover, moving from Upton Park to the London Stadium posed adaptation challenges. Their home record was inconsistent, with 4 wins, 2 draws, and 4 losses, and early-season disputes among fans about the new stadium.
Despite these issues, West Ham's form improved as the season progressed, and they climbed to 12th place by the halfway point.
West Ham still had the potential to push for a top-half finish or even European competition spots, provided Bilic could retain the core squad during the winter transfer window.
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Mourinho made significant changes to the starting lineup again. Most players who participated in the match against Middlesbrough two days earlier did not start today.
Manchester United continued with their 4-3-3 formation. Clearly, Mourinho did not see West Ham as a threat.
His instructions were simple: attack.
From the start, United launched fierce attacks on West Ham's goal, showing no signs of being the away team.
The commentator noted that this season, United's style had been to attack from the beginning until the end, then count the goals afterward.
However, they didn't score quickly this time.
West Ham wasn't an easy opponent.
In December, the Hammers had a decent run with 3 wins, 1 draw, and 2 losses. They had home victories of 1-0 against Burnley and Hull City, a 4-1 away win over Swansea, and a 2-2 draw with Liverpool at Anfield.
Facing United at home, West Ham aimed for at least a draw, if not a win.
They managed some threatening attacks in the first half. However, an unexpected event ruined their hopes.
In the 14th minute, during a West Ham attack, their winger Feghouli fouled Phil Jones with a dangerous tackle, earning a direct red card.
West Ham had to play nearly eighty minutes with ten men.
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With equal numbers, West Ham could compete with United. But with one less player, they were no match.
In the 36th minute, Ibrahimovic received a pass from Bruno at the edge of the box and laid it off to the right. The overlapping right-back, Darmian, crossed the ball, and Ibrahimovic, at the edge of the six-yard box, slotted it into the bottom right corner, making it 1-0!
United led 1-0 at halftime.
This scoreline didn't crush West Ham's spirits entirely, as they could make adjustments during the break. Being only one goal down at home wasn't the end of the world for them.
In the second half, West Ham's Croatian rock-star manager, Bilic, substituted striker Carroll for midfielder Payet. Payet had underperformed in the first half, and Bilic aimed to strengthen the attack. Being just one goal behind gave him hope of equalizing or even turning the game around.
However, United quickly dashed West Ham's hopes.
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In the 60th minute, United won a free kick.
It was quite a distance from the goal, so Mata prepared to take it.
Before taking the kick, Bruno approached him and said, "Pass it sideways to me. I want to try a long shot."
Mata had no objections, as he hadn't planned to shoot directly. His initial plan was to loft the ball into the box for Ibrahimovic and Maguire to challenge for it. With Bruno keen on a long shot, Mata agreed.
When the referee blew the whistle, Mata feigned a shot but passed the ball sideways.
Bruno, positioned centrally, unleashed a powerful shot that flew low and fast towards the West Ham goal!
West Ham's goalkeeper Randolph misjudged the shot's power. Though the ball was about 27-28 meters away, Bruno's shot was so powerful that it reached Randolph almost instantly. He couldn't get down quickly enough, and the ball slipped through his hands.
Fortunately for Randolph, his basic technique saved him, as his legs blocked the ball, preventing it from going through. The ball bounced off his knees and out.
Ibrahimovic followed up and tapped in the rebound, scoring his second goal of the match. United now led 2-0!
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Mourinho then brought on Rashford, replacing the underperforming Lingard.
Two minutes later, Bruno dribbled through the middle and passed to the newly-entered Rashford, who shot low from 16 meters out, finding the far corner of the net!
3-0!
With just over an hour played, West Ham found themselves three goals down, stunned by the rapid succession of United's goals.
Even the commentator was momentarily speechless at United's relentless assault.
Despite the scoreline, United showed no signs of letting up. Under Bruno's leadership, they continued attacking.
In the 80th minute, Bruno's through ball from the left found Rashford, who slotted it between Randolph's legs into the net.
Randolph was again nutmegged!
Leading 4-0, United pressed on. Three minutes later, from the edge of the box, Bruno passed to Ibrahimovic, who curled a right-footed shot into the far corner from 13 meters, completing his hat-trick. This goal brought his season tally to 18, moving him to second place in the scoring charts.
Thanks to Ibrahimovic's hat-trick, United led West Ham 5-0 away!
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At halftime, West Ham still believed they could salvage something from the match. But now, they just wanted it to end, not knowing how many more goals United might score.
Some West Ham players, frustrated by the humiliating scoreline, became aggressive.
In the 85th minute, West Ham's number 10, Lanzini, tackled Bruno from behind and received a red card. West Ham was down to nine men.
They were thoroughly beaten, both in score and spirit.
In injury time, United continued attacking. Bruno passed the ball back to Mata, who unleashed a seemingly casual long shot from outside the box. The ball sailed over the goalkeeper's reach and into the net.
6-0!
It was a crazy match, both in scoreline and action.
Previously vocal West Ham fans were now silent.
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Ultimately, United thrashed West Ham 6-0 away.
In the first match of the new year, Bruno didn't score but was instrumental in every goal, providing 4 assists. United's first goal came from his pass leading to Darmian's cross, and the second goal from his shot that Randolph spilled, allowing Ibrahimovic to score.
Adding to United's joy, their rivals stumbled. Fourth-placed Arsenal drew 3-3 away at Bournemouth, third-placed Liverpool drew 2-2 away at Sunderland, and United's main competitor, Chelsea, lost 2-0 to fifth-placed Tottenham in a London derby.
After 20 rounds, the Premier League standings were:
Manchester United - 19 wins, 1 loss, 57 points Chelsea - 16 wins, 1 draw, 3 losses, 49 points Liverpool - 13 wins, 4 draws, 2 losses, 43 points Tottenham - 12 wins, 6 draws, 2 losses, 42 points Arsenal - 12 wins, 4 draws, 4 losses, 40 points Manchester City - 12 wins, 3 draws, 5 losses, 39 points
United now had an 8-point lead at the top of the Premier League table!
(End of the chapter)
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