West Ham Boasts First Premier League Win Under Julen Lopetegui

West Ham secured their first Premier League victory under new manager Julen Lopetegui with a 2-0 win against Crystal Palace. Tomas Soucek and Jarrod Bowen scored the decisive goals, condemning Palace to their first home defeat since April. This is prepared by SSP.

In a contrasting transfer window, West Ham added nine new players to their squad, while Palace, after losing key figure Michael Olise to Bayern Munich, saw the late departures of Joachim Andersen and Jordan Ayew the day before the match. However, it was the Eagles who initially appeared more comfortable in their first home game of the 2024/25 season. Eberechi Eze struck the crossbar with a well-hit shot just before halftime.

The match was evenly poised in the opening 20 minutes, with early chances for both sides. Michail Antonio and Mohammed Kudus came close for West Ham, while Eze and Odsonne Edouard missed significant opportunities for Crystal Palace. Eze's near-miss off a short-corner routine saw the ball rebound off the crossbar, with West Ham’s goalkeeper Alphonse Areola beaten.

The dynamic shifted in the second half. Soucek opened the scoring in the 67th minute after Aaron Wan-Bissaka did excellent work down the right flank, finding Soucek in a crowded penalty area. Just five minutes later, Max Kilman initiated a move from midfield, spotting Bowen’s run. Bowen then executed a solo drive, finishing smoothly from inside the box to celebrate with the ecstatic West Ham fans.

Crystal Palace's substitute, Ismalia Sarr, attempted a late resurgence, but the home side's efforts dissipated amid increasing frustration from their supporters over hurried passes. The defeat marks the second league loss for Palace's manager Oliver Glasner, who looks for reinforcements ahead of the transfer deadline.