Soungoutou Magassa struck a late equaliser to earn West Ham United a 1-1 draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford, the first Premier League meeting between the clubs to finish level since July 2020.

Manchester United started brightly, piling pressure on the visitors from the first whistle. But West Ham created the first clear opening when Aaron Wan-Bissaka cut the ball back for Mateus Fernandes, whose effort was diverted behind by Casemiro.

Jean-Clair Todibo and Bruno Fernandes each saw attempts blocked at opposite ends, before Casemiro again intervened to deny Jarrod Bowen, while El Hadji Malick Diouf could only drag a shot wide.

Alphonse Areola was called into action in the 25th minute, stretching to tip Bryan Mbeumo’s looping effort over the bar. Moments later, United threatened again: Wan-Bissaka hooked a Joshua Zirkzee strike off the line, Todibo repelled Matheus Cunha’s overhead kick, and Bruno Fernandes curled just wide.

United continued to grow into the contest, with Konstantinos Mavropanos and Todibo putting themselves in the way of Cunha and Bruno Fernandes chances. Bowen almost punished them at the other end, weaving into the box before Senne Lammens denied him.

Mbeumo twice found promising positions after the restart, but Freddie Potts produced a vital challenge and Tomas Soucek blocked his next attempt, before Luke Shaw fired over from close range.

Magassa then crashed a strike into the side-netting, but United finally broke through just shy of the hour mark. Casemiro’s effort ricocheted kindly for Diogo Dalot, who kept his composure to finish.

Casemiro remained busy at the back, thwarting Potts, while Mavropanos deflected a Cunha shot over the bar. Substitute Andy Irving almost made an instant impact from a corner, Bowen’s near-post flick hacked off the line by Noussair Mazraoui.

But West Ham would not be denied. In the 84th minute, Magassa popped up in the right place to slam home his first goal for the club and level the score.

Debutant Mohamadou Kante fired wide and Bruno Fernandes twice missed the target late on, as West Ham held firm to claim a valuable point — their second draw in three matches — though they remain in the relegation zone.

United, meanwhile, have now drawn three of their last five league games and stay eighth in the table.