Mateta Shines as Crystal Palace Extend Unbeaten Away Run with West Ham Win

Crystal Palace continued their impressive away form with a 2-0 victory over a lackluster West Ham at the London Stadium. The Eagles extended their unbeaten run on the road to seven matches, a new club record in the top flight, while Jean-Philippe Mateta stole the show with a commanding performance that included both goals.

Mateta’s Magic

The French striker was a constant menace for West Ham’s defense. In the first half, his movement and aerial ability created problems, but it was after the break that he truly came alive. Just moments into the second half, Mateta latched onto a perfectly weighted through ball from Eberechi Eze and calmly slotted past Lukasz Fabianski to give Palace the lead.

He doubled his tally late in the game, converting a penalty earned by Eddie Nketiah. Though his spot-kick wasn’t the cleanest, it was enough to seal a thoroughly deserved victory for the Eagles and another standout performance for Mateta, who has been a revelation over the past year.

Palace’s Historic Away Run

This victory marked a seventh consecutive away game without defeat for Palace (W4 D3), the longest such streak in their top-flight history. They’ve also kept clean sheets in their last three away matches, equaling their best defensive run on the road in the Premier League since December 2017.

West Ham’s Woeful Display

For West Ham, this was another disappointing performance in front of their home crowd. David Moyes’ side failed to record a shot on target for the second time this season at the London Stadium, having also drawn a blank against Liverpool. It’s the first time since the 2005-06 campaign that the Hammers have failed to register a shot on target in multiple home league games.

Additionally, West Ham’s inability to score against Palace broke a streak of 21 league games in which they had found the net against the Eagles, the first time they’ve failed to do so since April 2014.

Key Stats

• Crystal Palace xG: 1.25
• West Ham xG: 0.44
• West Ham are winless in their last six home league games against Crystal Palace (D3 L3).
• Crystal Palace have kept clean sheets in three consecutive away games for the first time since 2017.

Looking Ahead

This result lifts Crystal Palace to 12th in the Premier League table as they continue to recover from early-season struggles. Roy Hodgson’s side is finding form at the right time, with Mateta and Eze playing pivotal roles.

For West Ham, the loss highlights growing concerns about their lack of cohesion and attacking threat, despite boasting a talented squad. David Moyes has plenty of work to do as the Hammers slide further into mid-table obscurity.

Crystal Palace’s win was a showcase of discipline, organization, and clinical finishing, with Mateta leading the charge. For West Ham, the result underscores the urgent need for improvement, especially at home, where they’ve struggled to create and convert chances. Palace fans will hope this result is a sign of more to come, while West Ham supporters will demand a response in their next outing.