West Ham vs Crystal Palace Report

Scorers: Mateta 48’, 89’ (P)

Jean-Philippe Mateta scored a second-half brace as Crystal Palace secured a 2-0 victory over West Ham United at the London Stadium, extending the Eagles’ impressive Premier League (PL) form to just one defeat in their last 11 matches.

The win also marked Oliver Glasner’s side’s first league triumph away to the Hammers since October 2020.

First Half: Palace Steady, West Ham Stalled

Coming into the match on the back of a six-game unbeaten PL away streak, Crystal Palace looked confident in the opening exchanges.

Mateta’s sharp effort across the goal in the 20th minute required a smart save from Łukasz Fabiański, but clear chances were otherwise limited for both sides in a tightly contested first half.

West Ham, led by Graham Potter, struggled to find any attacking rhythm. Lucas Paquetá’s speculative volley wide of the target was their only notable opportunity before the break.

The home crowd’s growing frustration mirrored the Hammers’ disjointed display, with Palace’s disciplined defensive structure leaving the hosts searching for answers.

Second Half: Mateta Makes the Difference

The Eagles wasted no time capitalising on their momentum after the restart. Just two minutes into the second half, Eberechi Eze played a clever ball into the path of Mateta, who surged forward before firing a low shot past Fabiański from 20 yards to give the visitors the lead.

Buoyed by the opener, Palace continued to press. Maxence Lacroix came close to doubling their advantage on the hour mark, but Fabiański made a crucial close-range save to keep his side in the game.

The near-miss spurred West Ham into action, but their efforts were limited to speculative attempts, including a wayward long-range shot from Edson Álvarez that failed to trouble Sam Johnstone.

Turning Point: Mavropanos Dismissed

West Ham’s slim hopes of a comeback were effectively dashed with 10 minutes remaining when Konstantinos Mavropanos received a second yellow card for a high challenge on Mateta. The dismissal left the Hammers exposed, and Palace took full advantage.

In the dying minutes, Eddie Nketiah was brought down in the box by Fabiański, earning the visitors a penalty. Mateta stepped up to coolly convert from the spot, securing his brace and sealing a deserved victory for the Eagles.

What This Means

• Crystal Palace: The Eagles continue their excellent run of form under Oliver Glasner, moving closer to the top half of the table and solidifying their reputation as a tough team to beat away from home.
• West Ham United: Graham Potter’s side remains in the bottom half, with the defeat highlighting their recent struggles to generate consistent attacking output.

Next Up

• West Ham United: The Hammers will aim to regroup as they face another challenging fixture away against Aston Villa in their quest to climb the table.
• Crystal Palace: The Eagles will look to build on this victory as they prepare for their home game against Brentford, hoping to extend their strong run of form.

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West Ham v Crystal Palace, 2024/25 | Premier League