Manchester United 2-1 West Ham United
Premier League Summer Series, MetLife Stadium, New Jersey, USA, Saturday 26 July 2025, 7pm EDT (12midnight BST)
In its 15-year existence, MetLife Stadium has hosted the NFL Super Bowl, WWE WrestleMania, NHL ice hockey, Copa América, FIFA Club World Cup, Bon Jovi, U2, Bruce Springsteen, Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Coldplay, Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, Elton John, Lady Gaga, Guns N' Roses – and now it has hosted West Ham United.
However, the Hammers’ appearance at the iconic New Jersey arena will not live long in the memory as Graham Potter’s side fell to a 2-1 defeat by Manchester United in their opening fixture at the 2025 Premier League Summer Series.
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes settled the game with a goal early in each half, before West Ham skipper Jarrod Bowen netted an outstanding strike of his own midway through the second.
Potter’s team played some attractive football at times and enjoyed nearly 60% possession in the first period, but failed to trouble goalkeeper Altay Bayındır often enough, while the Red Devils created a succession of chances to add to their early lead.
Indeed, Rasmus Højlund had already thumped a first-minute shot against Areola’s post before the Frenchman dropped the ball as he collided with El Hadji Malick Diouf, fouled Heaven, and Fernandes rolled the spot-kick into the bottom left-hand corner.
With the Londoners looking a little uncertain, Højlund fired over from 18 yards, Matheus Cunha worked Areola from 25 and Fernandes thumped too high from range.
West Ham’s first goal attempt finally arrived on 33 minutes, but James Ward-Prowse’s acrobatic effort was deflected wide.
Manchester United continued to threaten, though, and Maximilian Kilman had to block Cunha’s shot, Leny Yoro headed the resulting Fernandes corner powerfully and narrowly wide, and Amad was denied a second by an offside flag after slotting in Manuel Ugarte’s through ball.
The Hammers belatedly sprung into life as half-time approached, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Jarrod Bowen looking lively. The latter won a corner, James Ward-Prowse delivered it, Nayef Aguerd headed down and Tomáš Souček nodded too close to Bayındır from six yards out.
Manchester United raced out of the blocks at the start of the second half and quickly doubled their advantage.
Areola produced two fine saves in the space of 60 seconds, blocking from Fernandes when one-on-one, then tipping away Højlund’s dipping header, only to undo his good work moments later. Dorgu intercepted the Frenchman’s pass and fed his captain, who calmly curled inside the far upright.
Two goals down, West Ham rallied. Bowen fired a first-time shot over from Niclas Füllkrug’s pass before halving his team’s deficit in spectacular style on 63 minutes, collecting Souček’s pass and thumping high past Bayındır with his right foot into the top corner.
The Hammers kept plugging away as both coaches made multiple substitutions, with replacement Luis Guilherme flashing a shot over and Bowen seeing a rasping shot turned aside by Bayındır in added time.
West Ham will hope for a better result when we face David Moyes’ Everton – beaten 3-0 by AFC Bournemouth earlier on Saturday – at Solider Field in Chicago on Wednesday evening, and Bournemouth in Atlanta next weekend.
Manchester United: Bayındır, Heaven (Dalot 66), Yoro (Fredricsson 66), De Ligt (Maguire 66), Dorgu (Shaw 66), Ugarte (Casemiro 66), Mainoo (Collyer 66), Fernandes © (Leon 66), Amad (J.Fletcher 66), Cunha (Mount 66), Højlund (Obi 66)
Subs not used: Heaton (GK), Munro, Koné, Mantato, Williams
Goals: Fernandes 5 (pen), 52
Booked: Yoro
West Ham United: Areola, Wan-Bissaka, Todibo (Mavropanos 72), Kilman, Aguerd (Scarles 80), Diouf (Luis Guilherme 80), Rodríguez (Potts 72), Ward-Prowse (Fearon 80), Souček (Irving 80), Bowen ©, Füllkrug (Paquetá 72)
Subs not used: Foderingham (GK), Herrick (GK), Walker-Peters, Casey, Golambeckis, Kanté, Cornet, Marshall
Goal: Bowen 63
Referee: Thomas Bramall
