West Ham United vs Crystal Palace. Premier League.
London StadiumAttendance59,912.
Report and highlights as Crystal Palace go fourth with late victory
Sunday 6 October 2019 12:34, UK
Crystal Palace beat West Ham 2-1 and moved up to fourth in the Premier League after VAR overturned Jordan Ayew's disallowed goal late on at the London Stadium.
A sensational team goal from West Ham saw Sebastien Haller put the hosts ahead in the 54th minute but a Patrick van Aanholt penalty (63) levelled things after Declan Rice was penalised for handball.
But VAR took centre stage in the 86th minute after Ayew's strike was ruled out for offside, with the forward saying later that Martin Kelly was suspected of being the culprit. The decision went to a review and, after checking both players, it was overturned and the winning goal for Palace was given.
The victory sends Crystal Palace into fourth place, with Roy Hodgson finally winning his first away game at West Ham at the seventh attempt. West Ham's six-game unbeaten streak in the Premier League comes to an end and they drop one place into sixth.
It took a while for the game to find its rhythm at the London Stadium but the first big chance fell West Ham's way in the 29th minute as Vicente Guaita made a superb save. Mark Noble threaded a pass to Andriy Yarmolenko on the right, before the Ukrainian put a cross into the area for an unmarked Haller. The striker hammered a shot goalwards, but it went straight at the goalkeeper, with Guaita pushing the ball away at point-blank range.
Felipe Anderson had two wonderful chances to put West Ham ahead not long after. He was supplied by Ryan Fredericks on both occasions from the right flank, with the first effort a poor touch that sent the ball looping away from goal before a header went straight at Guaita.
Fredericks was back to defend three minutes later and kept Crystal Palace from taking the lead. Wilfried Zaha used a step-over to get away from Aaron Cresswell on the right of the area before cutting the ball back for Jeffery Schlupp inside the six-yard box. However, his effort was booted off the line by Fredericks as the first half ended goalless.
It took seven minutes after the restart for West Ham to have a huge chance come their way. Manuel Lanzini - who had a quiet game - delivered a free-kick, which Haller was able to nod back down into the area. Joel Ward initially cleared, but only as far as Angelo Ogbonna. However, he skied his effort high over the crossbar.
But two minutes later, West Ham took the lead with a stunning team goal. Yarmolenko fed Fredericks down the right after some wonderful passing play from the hosts, with the latter getting his cross through the area. Haller was waiting in the middle to sweep the ball home - falling over in the process - but was soon back on his feet to celebrate.
West Ham were not in front for long. Van Aanholt delivered a Crystal Palace free-kick, which former West Ham midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate tried to send goalwards but instead found the raised arm of Rice, with referee Michael Oliver pointing to the spot. With regular penalty taker Luka Milivojevic suspended, Van Aanholt stepped up and dispatched with a strong finish, sending West Ham goalkeeper Roberto the wrong way.
The game looked to be meandering to a draw - until the 86th minute. Crystal Palace had a free-kick, which West Ham initially cleared, but substitute Andros Townsend did wonderfully well to create another opening. His cross was headed down across the face of goal by Kelly, and turned home by Ayew at close range.
However, the linesman raised his flag for offside and the goal was initially ruled out. But the VAR review - which took around 90 seconds - showed both Kelly and Ayew were onside and the decision was overturned, handing Crystal Palace the victory and a spot inside the top four ahead of Sunday's games.
West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini: "It is a disappointing result because we were in front, we had clear chances to decide the game and with two set-pieces, it allowed Crystal Palace, without shooting once on our goal, to win this game with a penalty and a free-kick.
"We need to accept the VAR decision. I always say that it must be for big mistakes or what the human eye cannot see, but it exists and they decided it was a goal.
"It is a tough feeling and not only to have nothing from the game but also with the chance to be in the first three positions of the table. We need to continue working, I think we are in the correct way and maybe once, you'll lose one of these games but normally, you must win it."
Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson: "The technology proves if a goal is or it isn't, so there's not much really to argue about. But from a footballing point of view, I think it's harsh for teams to have to accept that goals are being given on such close decision-making when it comes to literally millimetres. I don't know whether that will be looked at anyway.
"This is the first time we've been involved in VAR, and at the moment we've got a 100 per cent record in the sense that it's gone our way. I can understand that it must be harsh for West Ham for it to be ruled in our favour after the linesman has actually ruled it to be offside.
"I can understand that they'll be unhappy tonight but I feel we deserved to win the game. We've won it this way, but there were a lot of other occasions and we had our fair share of chances.
"Fourteen points at this stage of the season is a fantastic return, but the games coming up now will be a harsh lesson for us, not in terms of the reality of the situation, but we know it will take only the slightest touch of our foot off the pedal for us to be going very quickly in reverse, and we don't want to do that."
Clinton Morrison told Sky Sports: "They got it right, but it took a lot of time. When it takes a while with VAR, then you know they're going to overturn it. To be fair, I'm not a fan of VAR, but today I'm a fan of it, because it's helped Palace!
"You can see why the linesman's given it because you cant see a West Ham player there but that's what VAR is there for, to make the right call, and he was just onside. It was a really good finish as well. "
Former West Ham defender James Collins added: "You can't argue with VAR when it comes to offside. You can see why he's given it offside because to the plain eye, it does look offside but that's why there's been such talk about it and that's why it's in place. It's there for these type of decisions and unfortunately it's not worked for West Ham."
Chelsea Women manager Emma Hayes said: "I'm looking at it, and I still feel it's so hard to determine whether it's on or offside because these are marginal details. The reality is that a decision has to be made and most would favour the attacker in that situation, and I feel it's much-deserved with Palace's second-half performance."
Van Aanholt had a big task on his shoulders in the absence of Milivojevic. He was the man taking the set-pieces and when Crystal Palace won a penalty, he took it with zeal and professionalism. While he won't dislodge the Crystal Palace captain as the regular taker, he proved a more than worthy back-up.
It was his 12th Premier League goal for Crystal Palace but he also contributed all over the pitch, completing 33 of his 40 passes with three clearances and three interceptions. It was a good day at the office all around for player and club.
Both teams will now have a two weeks before their next Premier League games for the international break. West Ham will get back under way against Everton on Saturday 19 October (kick-off 12.30pm) with Crystal Palace hosting Manchester City on the same day, live on Sky Sports.
