Having had the door to Champions League qualification carelessly left open by city, United saw it slammed firmly shut by a West Ham side who were in no mood to end their tenure of the Boleyn Ground with anything other than a win.
A night that had started badly for the Reds, whose team coach was attacked by missiles by Hammers supporters, continued that way as the home side seized the early advantage on the pitch. Lanzini's cross from the left found Sakho, whose shot deflected off the foot of Blind to creep inside the post.
United almost found themselves two down when appallingly disorganised defending allowed Carroll a free run on goal, but the striker's shot found De Gea's feet in the way. After half an hour the Reds began to suggest they might make West Ham pay for their failure to add to their total as they gradually found their way into the game.
Early in the second half, with Carrick replacing Schneiderlin in the Reds eleven, United brought the scores level. Mata's cut back found Martial and the Frenchman made no mistake from close range. With the game now an open affair, it seemed possible for either side to win it and it was United who got their noses in front with eighteen minutes to go. Rooney's ball from midfield found Rashford, who picked out Martial on the left and he drove into the box to drill past Randolph at the far post.
At that point, Champions League qualification appeared to beckon, but the home side had a different idea of how the evening would end. Antonio headed his side level four minutes later and it when De Gea failed to keep out a header from Reid, a victorious last game at the ground for West Ham was assured.
It was a thrilling match but ultimately deeply disappointing for United, who now play Bournemouth in the last game of the season knowing that a draw for city at Swansea will be enough, given their superior goal difference, to see Champions League football at the Etihad rather than Old Trafford next season.
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