At The Death: West Ham 2 Manchester United 2

Robin van Persie scores the dramatic equalizer at the death

Image retrieved from The Daily Mail UK

Starting Lineups (Courtesy of Soccerway.com)

Goals of the Game

West Ham: Collins (27', 58')

Manchester United: Cleverley (23'), van Persie (90')

Sir Alex Ferguson's side scraped off a drama-filled draw to keep their FA Cup race alive against West Ham United after a moment of brilliance from Ryan Giggs helped Robin van Persie smashed in the equalizing goal at the death.

Manchester United kicked off the first half with an irongrip control on possession, with Paul Scholes dictating the pace for his team. Chances from Welbeck, Hernandez and Smalling almost gave United the lead. West Ham responded with chances of their own. The Hammers' Alou Diarra and Ricardo Vaz Te had their attempts on goal. The game would pick up to the Reds' favor when a counterattack opened Hernandez and Welbeck. The Mexican opted to make a deceitful cross towards the unmarked Tom Cleverley who smashed the ball in from the edge of the box. Sam Allardyce's men responded four minutes later. New signing Joe Cole made a brilliant cross towards James Collins, who only needed to nudge the ball in for the equalizer.

Tom Cleverley opens the scoring with a brilliant goal

Image retrieved from The Daily Mail UK

West Ham's James Collins pulls one back for his side

Image retrieved from The Daily Mail UK

West Ham started the second-half off with urgency as they quickly linked up with their forwards, but the chance went wide. United also had chances from Welbeck and Kagawa, to no avail. West Ham, however, took the lead at the 58th minute. Joe Cole, the man the Hammers bought from Liverpool, made another stunning cross to James Collins, who headed the ball home for the second time in the night. West Ham would then take a tyrannical control of the possession, with the Reds having no chances whatsoever.

Collins replicates his first-half header to give West Ham the lead at Upton Park

Image retrieved from The Daily Mail UK

With time slowly running out, it seemed it wasn't United's day... until the 90th minute, when a first-touch cross from Ryan Giggs was sent towards the in-form Robin van Persie, who emphatically rocketed the ball home to make sure the Reds keep their challenge for the FA Cup title alive.

'Nervy': Manchester United 1 West Ham 0

Robin van Persie's 33rd second goal was enough to bring United the three points

Image retrieved from BBC Sport

Starting Lineups (courtesy of Soccerway.com)

Goals of the Game

Manchester United: van Persie (1')

West Ham: -

Robin van Persie lead Manchester United to a nervy and gritty 1-0 win at Old Trafford as his 33rd second goal held up against visitors West Ham United.

Manchester United started the first half in the most urgent of fashions when its prolific forward, Robin van Persie, found the net as early as the 33rd second. Carrick made an excellent through ball towards the Dutchman who took the shot. It deflected slightly towards West Ham defender James Collins and the ball volleyed into the net.

United made more attempts at goal, but were frequently caught offside. Hernandez came close to making it 2-0 at the 16th minute, but the shot drifted to the right. West Ham, in the same fashion, almost nicked in a goal with Kevin Nolan collecting a Matthew Taylor cross. Andy Carroll also found the bar.

Robin van Persie nets the fastest goal of the season in under 33 seconds

Image retrieved from The Daily Mail UK

West Ham begins the second-half with business on mind as Diame took a shot on target. Carrick blocked the shot. Matthew Taylor also got a shot on the next corner, with Hernandez who cleared. United retaliated. Rooney made a good run and took a shot from the left, which was greatly saved by Jaaskelainen. At the following corner, RvP's cross lead to confusion inside penalty box, with Smalling and Hernandez all having a go but it was eventually cleared. Edge of the box in front of West Ham's goal would then become a hotspot. Hernandez, Cleverley, Anderson, Rooney would all make attempts on goal from there, to no avail.

United almost had a scare at 80th minute when Anderson conceded a foul for a free kick at the middle of the pitch. West Ham played a long ball and found Carlton Cole inside the box, who came close to scoring the equalizer. Modibo Maiga collected the rebound, but he was offside. His attempt was nevertheless saved by United keeper Lindegaard.

The nervy Old Trafford faithful was treated to another scare when Patrice Evra haphazardly made a back pass towards his keeper, with West Ham's forwards on the prowl. Jonny Evans was there to bail out his captain and made the clearance.

In the end, Sir Alex Ferguson's side kept their 1-0 lead, albeit nervously and dangerously, to capture all three points and keep themselves top of the Premier League table.