Wednesday 11 May 2016 12:08, UK
West Ham bade farewell to the Boleyn Ground with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Manchester United on Tuesday night.
On an emotionally-charged night, where the Hammers ended their 112-year association with their iconic stadium, Winston Reid wrote his name in the history books with the landmark final goal, which proved to be the winner.
Diafra Sakho's deflected strike had broken the deadlock on 10 minutes - but two Anthony Martial goals in 21 second-half minutes turned the game on its head as Louis van Gaal's side looked set to keep Champions League qualification in their own hands.
But West Ham, who had overran their visitors in a stunning first-half display, found a second wind, wrestling back the lead through Michail Antonio before Reid hit the winner on 80 minutes.
The result strengthens West Ham's claims for Europa League football, with the win enough to move them to within a point of Manchester United, who handed the initiative back to neighbours City in the race for the top four.
The Manchester United team were caught in crowd trouble en route to the Boleyn, with their bus windows smashed in unsavoury scenes outside the ground.
Kick-off was delayed by 45 minutes but that only stoked the already passionate crowd gathering, who yearned for an early goal on their night of celebration.
The visitors quelled an early West Ham onslaught but their defence was soon breached when Sakho, having peeled away to the penalty spot, twisted to guide Manuel Lanzini's pull-back past David de Gea via a deflection off Daley Blind.
Blind's carelessness at the back almost gifted the hosts a second on 20 minutes, with the deep-lying Dutchman playing Carroll onside. Lanzini slotted the former England striker through on goal but De Gea came to the Red Devils' rescue, stopping a low effort with his legs.
De Gea was breached on 22 minutes but Antonio was denied a second as referee Mike Dean and his officials judged the ball to have gone out of play leading up to the right-back's close-range header, and awarded a corner.
Wayne Rooney mustered his side's one, and only, shot of the first half, but his ambitious effort ballooned high into the Bobby Moore Stand.
The Hammers dominated from there on, but Dimitri Payet was unable to convert their dominance into a second on 32 minutes when, after Martial was dispossessed Noble, he lashed his shot wide.
Martial saw a half-hearted penalty claim waved away on the stroke of half-time as the Hammers went into the break with their deserved lead intact.
Former West Ham midfielder Michael Carrick was introduced after the interval as Van Gaal sought a route back into the contest. And they were level within six minutes as Martial converted Juan Mata's pass from close range at the end of a brisk counter.
Sakho should have restored the hosts' lead five minutes later but his stooping header failed to convert Payet's inch-perfect cross into the area.
Martial then produced a moment of individual brilliance on 72 minutes as he skipped past Reid and beat Darren Randolph at his near post with a chipped finish.
But the Hammers rallied and were level within four minutes as Payet found Antonio with a short free-kick, and he floated a header home.
The turnaround was complete 10 minutes from time as centre-back Reid's header evaded the clutches of De Gea and the Hammers ended their Boleyn Ground account with a victory that will live long in the memory.
Manager Bilic was in tears as the full-time whistle sounded - before the fans were treated to a lavish closing ceremony to mark the final match at their home of 112 years.
Player ratings
West Ham: Randolph (6), Antonio (8), Reid (8), Ogbonna (7), Cresswell (7), Noble (9), Kouyate (7), Sakho (8), Lanzini (7), Payet (9), Carroll (7).
Used subs: Tomkins (5), Obiang (5), Valencia (n/a).
Man Utd: De Gea (7), Valencia (6), Smalling (6), Blind (7), Rojo (6), Herrera (6), Schneiderlin (5), Rooney (6), Mata (6), Rashford (6), Martial (9).
Used subs: Carrick (6), Januzaj (n/a), Lingard (n/a)
Man of the match: Dimitri Payet
