Crystal Palace 2 West Ham 2: Wilfried Zaha rescues injury-time draw after Michail Antonio blunder

1/23
Jack Rosser @JackRosser_28 October 2017

Crystal Palace secured a dramatic 2-2 draw deep into injury time against Premier League London rivals Crystal Palace.

Goals from Javier Hernandez and Andre Ayew put West Ham in control, but Luka Milivojevic’s second half penalty gave Roy Hodgson hope before Michail Antonio gifted Palace one last attack in the 96th minute - and Wilfried Zaha made them pay.

After a quiet start to the game, with Palace dominating the ball but creating little with it, Wilfried Zaha was denied a penalty appeal after a nudge from Jose Fonte in the visitor’s penalty area and, with the home fans still protesting, the Hammers broke.

Ayew found Aaron Cresswell on the left in acres of space and, with bodies pouring into the box, the England international did well to find the run of Hernandez in the box, his composed finish hitting Palace hard after failing to take advantage of their control.

Despite taking the lead, the Hammers allowed their hosts to dominate the ball, still creating little, and once more took their chance when it came.

Having played a role in the build-up to the opening goal, Ayew took a more direct route to double the lead. Running at Scott Dann the former Swansea man jinked right and left before cutting onto his weaker side and rifling a wonderful finish past Julian Speroni.

Although two-down at the break there were signs Palace, should they manage to find a spark in the final third, could work their way back in with Bilic’s side looking far from convincing.

Angelo Ogbonna handed Hodgson’s side that route back just minutes after the interval when he brought down Andros Townsend in the box and referee Bobby Madley pointed to the spot, before Milivojevic stepped up and finished past Joe Hart.

But Palace weren't done there as Antonio gifted the hosts possession in the 96th minute instead of keeping possession in the corner, with Ruben Loftus-Cheek setting up Zaha for the draw with seconds to spare.