West Ham and Leeds United halted Manchester United and Chelsea’s respective winning streaks under their new managers at four games each, forcing them into 1-1 and 2-2 draws respectively on Tuesday during the 26th round of the English Premier League.
In the first match in London, Manchester United was on its way to victory when it led by a goal from Czech international midfielder Tomáš Souček from the 50th minute until the sixth minute of added time, when Slovenian international substitute striker Benjamin Šeško saved “The Red Devils” from defeat by securing the equalizer.
Manchester United raised its tally to 45 points in fourth place, surpassing the fifth-placed team by a single point, while West Ham raised its tally to 24 points in eighteenth place, continuing its positive recent results under its Portuguese manager, with three wins and a draw in the last five rounds against only one loss.
Souček opened the scoring after easily finishing from close range a cross from the right side played by Jarrod Bowen (50′).
The Brazilian Casemiro scored a goal in the 63rd minute, but referee Simon Cooper disallowed it after consulting the Video Assistant Referee for offside.
The manager brought on strikers Šeško and Dutchman Joshua Zirkzee in place of the Brazilian Matheus Cunha and the Portuguese Diogo Dalot in the 69th and 82nd minutes respectively, searching to turn the tables on the home side.
Manchester United tried with a shot from outside the penalty area which was brilliantly saved by the home side’s Danish goalkeeper Mads Hermansen (76′), before Zirkzee’s close-range header from a cross by the Portuguese Bruno Fernandes went just wide of the left post (90+4′).
The continuous search for a goal paid off with a goal signed by Šeško, who easily finished from close range a cross from the Cameroonian Bryan Mbeumo (90+4′).
In the second match, Chelsea let a win slip from its grasp and missed a chance to climb to fourth place by drawing 2-2 with its guest Leeds United.
The London team took the lead with goals from the Brazilian João Pedro (24′) and Cole Palmer (58′ penalty), and the visitors replied with goals from the German Lukas Michel (67′ penalty) and the Swiss substitute Noah Okafor (73′).
Chelsea failed to achieve its fifth consecutive league win under its new manager, settling for a draw that brought its tally to 44 points in fifth place.
In contrast, Leeds reached 30 points in fifteenth place.
Pedro opened the scoring, crowning his team’s dominance at the start of the match, after breaking free and lifting the ball easily from inside the penalty area over the visiting Welsh goalkeeper Karl Darlow following a decisive and precise through pass from Palmer (24′).
In the second half, the home Spanish goalkeeper Robert Sánchez put his teammate Pedro through on goal with a long pass, and Leeds’ Slovenian defender Jaka Bijol had no choice but to push him, prompting referee Robert Jones to award a penalty which Palmer successfully converted to Darlow’s left (58′).
This goal is the eighth for the English international winger in 15 matches he has played with Chelsea in the domestic league.
Michel reduced the deficit from a penalty awarded by Jones after a foul by the Ecuadorian Moisés Caicedo on Jayden Bogle, which the German placed to Sánchez’s right (67′).
Okafor secured the equalizer after coming on as a substitute in the 55th minute, taking advantage of a ball that fell to him following a scramble inside the area, and he easily placed it into the open goal in front of him (73′).
Jones allowed the goal amidst protests from Chelsea players due to a handball on Bogle during the attack that led to the visitors’ equalizing goal.
Palmer wasted a chance to give his team all three points, after sending the ball over the open goal from inside the six-yard box following a cross from the right side
English Premier League
The English Premier League is a professional football competition founded in 1992 as a breakaway from the Football League’s First Division, making it the top tier of English football. It has grown into one of the world’s most-watched and commercially successful sports leagues, known for its global fanbase and competitive nature.
West Ham
West Ham is a district in East London, historically part of the ancient parish of West Ham in Essex. It grew significantly during the Industrial Revolution due to its docks, factories, and the arrival of the railway, becoming a major center for industry and a densely populated working-class area. The area is famously associated with West Ham United Football Club, which was originally founded in 1895 as the works team for the Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company.
Leeds United
Leeds United is a professional football club based in Leeds, England, founded in 1919. The club enjoyed its greatest period of success under manager Don Revie in the 1960s and 70s, winning multiple league titles and domestic cups, and reaching the 1975 European Cup Final.
Manchester United
Manchester United is a professional football club based in Manchester, England, founded in 1878 as Newton Heath LYR Football Club. It is one of the world’s most successful and widely supported football teams, having won a record 20 English league titles and three European Cups/UEFA Champions League trophies, with its most dominant period coming under the management of Sir Alex Ferguson from 1986 to 2013.
Chelsea
Chelsea is a historic and affluent district in West London, known for its association with the arts and the annual Chelsea Flower Show. Its history includes being a fashionable village outside London since the 16th century and a hub for artists and writers during the 19th and 20th centuries. The area is also home to the Chelsea Physic Garden, founded in 1673 as one of the oldest botanical gardens in England.
London
London is the capital city of England and the United Kingdom, with a history dating back to Roman times when it was founded as Londinium. It has since grown into a major global city, historically serving as the centre of the British Empire and now as a leading hub for finance, culture, and politics.
The Red Devils
“The Red Devils” is the nickname for the Belgium national football team, which was first adopted in 1906 due to their red home jerseys. The team gained international prominence during the 1980s and has since become known for its talented “Golden Generation” of players in the 2010s and 2020s.
Portugal
Portugal is a country in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula, with a history deeply shaped by its Age of Discovery in the 15th and 16th centuries, when it established the first global maritime empire. Its cultural sites reflect this legacy, from the ornate Jerónimos Monastery in Lisbon, built to commemorate Vasco da Gama’s voyage, to the historic centre of Porto, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Brazil
Brazil is the largest country in South America, known for its immense Amazon rainforest and vibrant cultural exports like samba and Carnival. Its modern history began with Portuguese colonization in 1500, followed by independence as an empire in 1822 and the establishment of a republic in 1889. Today, it is a diverse federal republic famed for its multicultural society and significant global economic role.
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe with a rich history dating back to the Viking Age, when it was a major seafaring power. Today, it is known for its constitutional monarchy, modern welfare society, and cultural landmarks like the Tivoli Gardens and Kronborg Castle, the setting of Shakespeare’s *Hamlet*.
Cameroon
Cameroon, located in Central Africa, is a culturally diverse nation often called “Africa in miniature” due to its varied geography and over 250 ethnic groups. Its modern history was shaped by colonial rule, first by Germany in the late 19th century and later as a French and British mandate after World War I, leading to its unification as an independent republic in 1960.
Germany
Germany is a country in Central Europe with a complex history, having been a collection of states for centuries before unifying in 1871. It was a central power in both World Wars, was divided into East and West Germany during the Cold War, and reunified in 1990. Today, it is a leading economic and political force in the European Union, known for its rich cultural heritage in philosophy, music, and science.
Switzerland
Switzerland is a landlocked country in Central Europe known for its long history of neutrality, which dates back to the Treaty of Paris in 1815. It is a federal republic comprised of 26 cantons and is globally recognized for its political stability, direct democracy, and iconic Alpine landscapes.
Wales
Wales is a country within the United Kingdom, located on the western part of the island of Great Britain, with a distinct Celtic cultural identity and its own Welsh language. Its history includes being a land of independent kingdoms before being conquered by England in the 13th century under Edward I, leading to its eventual political incorporation. The country is renowned for its ancient castles, rugged coastline, and its strong traditions in music and poetry, particularly through the Eisteddfod festival.
Spain
Spain is a country in southwestern Europe with a rich and complex history shaped by successive Roman, Visigothic, and Moorish rule, culminating in the unification under the Catholic Monarchs in the late 15th century. It is globally renowned for its diverse cultural heritage, including flamenco, distinctive regional identities, and architectural landmarks like the Alhambra and Sagrada Família.
Slovenia
Slovenia is a Central European country with a rich history shaped by its location at the cultural crossroads of the Alps, the Mediterranean, and the Pannonian Plain. Historically part of various empires, including the Habsburg Monarchy, it became an independent nation in 1991 following the breakup of Yugoslavia. The country is renowned for its diverse landscapes, from alpine mountains to coastal towns, and cultural sites like the Postojna Cave and the medieval capital of Ljubljana.
Ecuador
Ecuador is a South American country known for its rich cultural heritage and diverse geography, including the Galápagos Islands and the Andes Mountains. Historically, it was part of the Inca Empire before Spanish colonization in the 16th century, gaining independence in 1822 as part of Gran Colombia and becoming a separate republic in 1830. Its cultural sites, such as the well-preserved historic center of Quito, reflect this blend of indigenous and colonial influences.
