Late Ayew strike completes Palace comeback at West Ham

A late Jordan Ayew goal, which was checked extensively by VAR, completed a second half comeback for Crystal Palace as they overcame West Ham 2-1 at the London Stadium.

The inform winger Andriy Yarmolenko looked to threaten the Eagles defence in the early stages, denied by the away side’s experienced captain Gary Cahill.

Palace seemed keen to stamp their mark on the game, aided by their manager Roy Hodgson’s industrious clapping from the sidelines.

Attacks from the visitors failed to trouble Roberto in the West Ham goal, the Spaniard replacing Lukasz Fabiański  after his injury against Bournemouth last weekend.

The first big chance of the game came on 29 minutes. The ever-dangerous Yarmolenko was rolled in down the right with Sebastien Haller unmarked in the area. When the ball arrived to the Frenchman, the striker could only see his goal bound effort saved by Vicente Guaita to the amazement of the home faithful.

The chance woke up both the Hammers players and crowd as the right-hand side of Ryan Fredericks and Yarmolenko combining to present an opportunity for Felipe Anderson which the Brazilian got all wrong.

Jeffrey Schlupp would have given the Eagles the lead if not for Ryan Fredericks, the defender clearing the ball off the line after Schlupp was set up by Wilfried Zaha.

A defensive clearance almost inadvertently gave Haller a goal before James McCarthy drew a save from Roberto as the game grew in an end to end affair.

Manuel Lanzini dragged a shot wide to end the first half as the teams went in level.

The start of the second half brought the first goal.

After smart work to release themselves from a Palace press, West Ham worked the ball wide to Fredericks. The full-back drilled the ball low into Haller, who ensured he didn’t repeat his mistakes of the first half by firing past Guaita from close range.

Palace were then awarded a penalty on 61 minutes when Declan Rice was adjudged to have handled former Hammer Chiekhou Kouyate’s cross.

Patrick van Aanholt took it and confidently sent Roberto the wrong way to restore parity and set the smoke bombs alight in the Palace end.

Patrick van Aanholt converted from the spot to bring Palace level (Photo: PA)

The game had turned from a pretty dull affair into a gripping fixture as West Ham fans anxiously waited to jeer Wilfried Zaha’s next mistake.

The visitors didn’t seem content with a point and they controlled possession going into the final ten minutes, Jordan Ayew a ever-willing runner.

It was now only the away section in full voice as Hodgson sent on Andros Townsend, perhaps sensing a chance to snatch all three points.

The substitute had the desired effect as his ball in was headed across goal by Martin Kelly for Jordan Ayew to tap home.

The goal was initially ruled out by the linesman but after a lengthy VAR check, which left most in the press box squinting at the monitors provided, the goal was given and Palace led 2-1.

Six additional minutes followed but Palace held on to complete a second half turnaround and take all three points from this London derby.

West Ham United XI: Roberto, Cresswell (Zabaleta, 84), Diop, Ogbonna, Fredericks, Rice, Noble (C), Lanzini (Fornals, 68), Anderson, Yarmolenko (Wilshere, 78), Haller

West Ham unused substitutes: Martin, Balbuena, Snodgrass, Ajeti

Crystal Palace XI: Guaita, Ward, Cahill (C), Kelly, van Aanholt, Kouyate, McArthur, McCarthy (Townsend, 81), Schlupp, Zaha, Ayew (Benteke, 90)

Crystal Palace unused substitutes: Hennessey, Tomkins, Dann, Meyer, Camarasa