West Ham vs. Manchester United: Score, Reaction from 2016 Premier League Game

West Ham United came from behind to beat Manchester United 3-2 on Tuesday in the Hammers' last game at the Boleyn Ground before their move to the Olympic Stadium.    

Manager Slaven Bilic's side took the lead early on through Diafra Sakho, only for a second-half Anthony Martial double to dampen the farewell party somewhat.

However, headed finishes from Michail Antonio and Winston Reid turned the match around, simultaneously giving West Ham fans the winning ending they wanted for their beloved stadium while also dealing the Red Devils' UEFA Champions League hopes a huge blow.

Kick-off was delayed for 45 minutes because of some unsavoury scenes, per BreatheSport:

"

Kick off tonight has been delayed until 8.30pm after West Ham fans attacked the Man Utd team bus with bottles... pic.twitter.com/kieKHODCYa

— BreatheSport (@BreatheSport) May 10, 2016"

Both clubs provided their lineups long before the start of the match:

The hosts dominated the early exchanges amid a thumping atmosphere at Upton Park and had a penalty claim correctly denied in only the second minute as the Hammers laid siege to the United penalty area.

West Ham kept up the frantic pressure and were rewarded with the opening goal from Sakho in the 10th minute.

Aaron Cresswell played Manuel Lanzini excellently down the left flank, and the Argentinian picked out Sakho on the penalty spot. His curling shot deflected off Daley Blind and past diving United goalkeeper David De Gea.

United looked remarkably open at the back as West Ham's roaring fans urged the Hammers forward, per the Times' Henry Winter:

Dimitri Payet fired straight at De Gea from the edge of the box before Andy Carroll had a golden opportunity to make it 2-0 in the 19th minute.

Played onside by a slumbering Blind, the Englishman was put through one-on-one with De Gea, who excellently saved Carroll's shot with his legs, although it was an unforgivably tame attempt by the striker.

The Irons did have the ball in the net again in the 21st minute as Antonio headed home, but the ball had already been deflected out of play for a corner.

Frank Augstein/Associated Press

Just after the half-hour Payet had another great opportunity after being fed on the edge of the area by Mark Noble, but his attempt went high and wide as he shaped to curl a finish into the top corner.

Only in the final part of the first half did the visitors finally get a foothold in the game.

Wayne Rooney fashioned United's first real opportunity as he whipped in a lovely cross from the right in the 33rd minute, but Antonio beat Marcus Rashford to the header.

It was a matter of holding on until the break for United, though, and they were fortunate to end the first half just 1-0 behind.

In an attempt to gain some more control, United manager Louis van Gaal threw on Michael Carrick in place of Morgan Schneiderlin for the second half—a smart decision, per Squawka Dave:

And the Red Devils were back on level terms six minutes into the second period when Martial cooly finished a flowing move that started with De Gea.

The Spanish goalkeeper found Rashford on the right, and the young striker played in Juan Mata on the byline, who put it on a plate for the onrushing Martial to sweep home.

But West Ham remained the dominant side, as Payet fizzed an effort past the post from 25 yards before setting up Sakho just before the hour from a brilliant free-kick, only for the Senegalese striker to head over the bar.

Carroll's free header was then blocked on the line by Martial in the 68th minute before the Frenchman delivered a sucker punch minutes later as he scored from another United counter-attack.

Rooney did brilliantly to win the ball in the centre circle, and Rashford then fed Martial on the left, who outmuscled and outpaced Reid before finishing from a tight angle, per BBC Sport's Phil McNulty:

It looked as though the Boleyn Ground farewell party may end in defeat for the Hammers, but Payet then came to the rescue as he set up Antonio and Reid for two goals inside five minutes.

The equaliser came 14 minutes from time after Payet's free-kick deflected back off the wall, only for the Frenchman to send in a delicious floated ball, which Antonio brilliantly headed into the top corner.

Another free-kick then set up the eventual winner, as Reid met Payet's whipped delivery and headed it home despite De Gea getting a hand on it.

Post-Match Reaction

GLYN KIRK/Getty Images

Bilic was overcome with emotion at the final whistle and credited his side's immense belief with pushing them on to turn the match around on such an occasion, per Sky Sports (via BBC Sport's Tom Rostance):

"We didn't stop believing. We knew they were highly motivated because they could have leapt above Manchester City. We totally deserved it. It was a great night, it is history, not just a game, it is against them, fighting for Europe, late night game. All the boxes you need for a special type of game was tonight."

Meanwhile, match-winner Reid praised the West Ham fans, per Sky Sports (via Rostance): "It was just meant to be tonight. It is brilliant for us. It was the best atmosphere we have played in. The fans have been with us through the good times and the bad times." 

United boss Van Gaal expressed huge disappointment with how his side defended the late set pieces that sparked West Ham's comeback, per Rostance: "It is very disappointing because we were ahead. We gave it away because of the set plays. As a manager you are never satisfied but when you are 2-1 ahead after 70 minutes then you have to make the pitch bigger and keep the ball better."