The London Stadium was the destination for the latest London derby in this dramatic Premier League season. West Ham qualified for the UEFA Europa League knockout rounds in midweek with a late win at Bačka Topola, while Palace suffered defeat at the hands of Rob Edwards’ Luton Town.
WHU: Areola; Coufal, Mavropanos, Aguerd, Emerson; Alvarez, Ward-Prowse; Soucek, Paqueta, Kudus; Bowen
CRY: Johnstone; Ward, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell; Richards, Lerma; Hughes, Ayew, Olise; Edouard
A chilly afternoon in East London saw Palace start the brighter, dominating the ball in the opening minutes and looking to try and catch West Ham out, but early strikes by Michael Olise and Joachim Andersen were blocked and cleared. Odsonne Edouard then headed just over the bar with over ten minutes gone.
Having been on the back foot for the first quarter of the game, West Ham had been struggling to contain Roy Hodgson’s side, but Palace couldn’t contain Mohammed Kudus, who found the opener against the run of play.
An excellent switch of play from James Ward-Prowse found Vladimir Coufal down the right hand side. The Czech Republic international then cut the ball back to Kudus, whose shot squirmed past Sam Johnstone into the Palace net.
Embed from Getty ImagesThat goal seemed to have sparked David Moyes’ side into life, as they took the game by the scruff of the neck, with Nayef Aguerd’s excellent ball forward finding Jarrod Bowen, but the Englishman’s half-volley was straight at Sam Johnstone.
It was then Palace’s turn to test Alphonse Areola in the West Ham goal, as Jordan Ayew’s effort from long-range was dragged wide by the Ghanian. Joachim Andersen’s free-kick could have sneaked in at the far post in the 35th minute, but thanks to the West Ham wall, it travelled just wide instead.
West Ham thought they had doubled their advantage right as the second half began, but Tomas Soucek’s effort from Mohammed Kudus’ ball in from the right was ruled out for offside.
Roy Hodgson would have wanted more urgency from his Palace side after the half-time break, and he almost got it, as Marc Guehi’s ball across the box fizzed past Edouard at the far post.
But moments later, the Frenchman was given a gift through Konstantinos Mavropanos, as the West Ham defender passed the ball straight to Edouard, and the Palace striker made no mistake this time round, as he slotted home the equaliser past Alphonse Areola – albeit with some help from the post.
Embed from Getty ImagesMichael Olise could have put the Eagles in front shortly after, but his strike was tame and straight into the arms of Areola.
Emerson Palmieri had a glorious chance to put West Ham in front following Lucas Paqueta’s wonderful ball into the box, but the left-back somehow scooped his close-range finish over the bar. Mohammed Kudus’s ball in from the left gave Konstantinos Mavropanos to atone for his mistake that led to Odsonne Edouard’s equaliser, but the defender saw his header bounce just wide at the far post.
As the game entered six minutes of stoppage time, the Hammers were in the ascendency and were looking for a winner, but Vladimir Coufal’s ball in was collected comfortably by Johnstone before Tomas Soucek could get his head to it. Jarrod Bowen’s header in the 94th minute was also calmly secured by the England goalkeeper.
Both teams return to action in midweek, with Crystal Palace heading back to Selhurst Park to welcome Bournemouth on Wednesday at 7:30pm, and West Ham travelling across London themselves to face Tottenham on Thursday at 8:15pm.
