Crystal Palace 4-3 West Ham: Eagles Win Premier League Cracker To Go Above Chelsea
Wilfried Zaha marked his return from injury with a goal as Crystal Palace edged past London rivals West Ham in a thrilling 4-3 win at Selhurst Park.
The experienced winger started for Crystal Palace for the first time since Roy Hodgson’s return to the dugout on April 1.
It was one of three changes for the Eagles boss, with Joel Ward and Jeffrey Schlupp also returning to the starting XI and Will Hughes, Luka Milivojevic and Albert Sambi Lokonga making way.
West Ham’s Declan Rice made his 200th Premier League appearance on an afternoon that saw David Moyes make two changes.
Emerson and Pablo Fornals came into his side, replacing Aaron Cresswell and Said Benrahma.
Kick-off at Selhurst Park was delayed by 15 minutes to 12:45 due to issues with the turnstiles.
The hosts conceded on nine minutes from a Jarrod Bowen corner, with Michael Olise’s dreadful defensive header dropping straight into the path of Tomas Soucek who fired home.
West Ham’s lead did not last long. Six minutes later, Olise slipped a fine pass to Jordan Ayew who levelled with a lovely low finish to make it 1-1.
Zaha marked his return to the starting line-up by putting his side ahead on 20 minutes.
Olise’s cross from the right skipped past Ayew but Zaha was waiting at the far post and gave Hammers keeper Lukasz Fabianski no chance when he fired into the top right corner.
Jeffrey Schlupp extended Palace’s advantage on 30 minutes as he picked the ball off Soucek and was through on goal, taking his time as he slotted through the legs of Fabianski.
The visitors replied quickly from a corner, flicked on by Soucek to Michail Antonio who headed in at the back post to make it 3-2.
The hosts restored their two-goal advantage after Eberechi Eze was deemed to have been dragged down by Nayef Aguerd inside the area.
The Morocco international protested but the penalty stood after a VAR check, Eze making it 4-2 after sending Fabianski the wrong way with his spot-kick.
The see-saw afternoon continued as the Hammers clawed back from another corner. Three bodies rose to meet the ball at the back post but it was Aguerd who was deemed to have got the last touch as the ball pinged low off the post and in. VAR checked for handball, but the goal stood.
