ο»ΏDiogo Dalot, the Manchester United defender, experienced a shocking moment against West Ham, as he missed an open goal in what many are calling the ‘miss of the season.’
On Sunday afternoon, the Red Devils made their way to the London Stadium, aiming to secure back-to-back victories in the Premier League.
The day concluded in disappointment for Erik ten Hag’s squad, as they fell 2-1 in injury time due to a penalty from Jarrod Bowen.
The atmosphere was further dampened by their wastefulness in front of the goal, highlighted by full-back Dalot’s stunning miss in the early moments of the match.
The unfortunate turn of events unfolded shortly after the half-hour mark of the game, as Bruno Fernandes delivered a perfectly weighted ball into Dalot’s path.
The Portuguese defender skillfully maneuvered around Hammers goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski, finding himself in front of a gaping net.
Rather than slotting the ball into the net to secure a 1-0 lead, his right-footed attempt soared high over the crossbar, eliciting jeers from the home crowd.
Social media users swiftly expressed their frustration.
A fan humorously remarked on X: ‘It’s easier to score than miss from that spot.’
One person humorously suggested that Dalot was secretly trying to hasten the widely discussed departure of manager Erik ten Hag. It appears that the desire for ETH to exit isn’t limited to just the fans.
A fan highlighted that even players known for their missed opportunities, like Timo Werner and Darwin Nunez, would have performed better.A fan remarked, ‘Even Werner, Jackson, Nunez, and Mbappe would have found the back of the net here.’
Dalot’s miss highlights the frustrating inefficiency that has plagued United’s attacking efforts this season.
So far this Premier League campaign, they’ve squandered 22 significant opportunities and have been unable to find the back of the net in the first half of eight out of their first nine matches.