Manchester United's frustrating season continued Thursday evening as they were held to a 1-1 draw by West Ham United at Old Trafford, further denting their hopes of securing a top-four finish in the Premier League. Diogo Dalot's second-half goal appeared to have set the Red Devils on course for a crucial victory, but a late equalizer from West Ham's Soungoutou Magassa ensured the points were shared.

The draw leaves Manchester United in eighth place, missing a chance to move up to fifth. Meanwhile, West Ham sit in 18th position.

The home side dominated possession for much of the match but struggled to create clear-cut chances. West Ham, on the other hand, appeared content to sit back and absorb the pressure, hoping to hit United on the counter-attack. Despite United's dominance, the first half ended goalless, with both sides failing to truly test the opposition goalkeepers.

Manchester United finally broke the deadlock in the 58th minute when Dalot controlled a deflected shot from Casemiro inside the box, before turning and firing past West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola. It was Dalot's first Premier League goal at Old Trafford.

However, United failed to build on their lead and were ultimately punished for their lack of killer instinct in the final third. With just seven minutes remaining, West Ham snatched an equalizer when a corner wasn't properly dealt with, and Magassa reacted quickest to slot the ball home. Jarrod Bowen's flicked header was cleared off the line by Noussair Mazraoui, but Magassa pounced on the rebound to score his first goal for West Ham.

In the aftermath of West Ham's goal, Bruno Fernandes had two late chances to win the game for United, blazing one shot wide and volleying another off target.

The result is a significant setback for Ruben Amorim's Manchester United, who have now won only one of their last five games, drawing three. The team's inability to turn promising performances into victories is becoming a recurring theme this season, raising questions about their ability to secure a Champions League spot.

West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo said he was pleased with his team's performance, especially the way they reacted after conceding. Meanwhile, Amorim rued his team's inability to close out the game after taking the lead.

The draw means Manchester United have once again failed to capitalize on an opportunity to climb up the table, leaving them further adrift of their top-four rivals. The Red Devils will need to find consistency and a clinical edge in front of goal if they are to salvage their season and achieve their Champions League ambitions.