Having beaten Wolves in Annapolis, the Eagles rounded off our tour of the United States in perfect fashion.
The Eagles made the ideal start, scoring what is surely the fastest goal in Stateside Cup history. A ball into the penalty area had been badly dealt with and a half-clearance had found Tyrick Mitchell on the edge of the penalty area, who smashed into the top corner to get things started in style.
It sparked a dominant period for Palace in the opening stages, with Will Hughes sweeping towards the far corner only to be denied by Lukasz Fabianski, before a jinking run from Odsonne Edouard ended with another smart save.
Despite their dominance, the Eagles were pegged back out of the blue, with Michail Antonio latching on to a loose backpass and slotting past Dean Henderson, against the run of play.
It could have been a full turnaround had Joachim Andersen not stepped in, sliding across to deny Emerson when he looked to be smashing into an open goal, after a mishit cross caught everyone out and struck the outside of the post.
Just before half-time Jordan Ayew could have given Palace the lead once again, found eight yards out in plenty of space but curling narrowly wide of the post.
West Ham could have taken the lead early in the second-half, with Antonio racing forwards on the counter attack and picking out James Ward-Prowse in behind, only for Mitchell to race back and poke it behind.
Then, Palace struck – twice in quick succession. The lead was regained with a fantastic header from Jeff Schlupp, looping over the goalkeeper under pressure from the defender for his second in as many games.
Schlupp was instrumental two minutes later, winning the ball back high up-field for Edouard to slot under Fabianski.
With a two-goal cushion, Palace found the freedom to push forwards with real pace, as Daichi Kamada set up Schlupp one-on-one, only for Fabianski to save, and the game was closed off in confident fashion.
The result meant a 100 percent record for Palace in the United States, and saw the Eagles lift the Stateside Cup to round off a successful tour.
Pre-Match Analysis
The pre-season clash between Crystal Palace and West Ham was a highly anticipated affair, with both teams looking to make a statement ahead of the new Premier League campaign.
Crystal Palace, under the guidance of new manager Oliver Glasner, had enjoyed a successful pre-season so far, remaining unbeaten in their matches prior to their meeting with West Ham.
West Ham, under Julen Lopetegui, had a mixed pre-season, with a 3-1 defeat to Wolves in their last outing adding pressure to their quest for a strong start to the season.
Key Highlights
Fast Start for Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace got off to a blistering start, with Tyrick Mitchell scoring the fastest goal in Stateside Cup history, just moments after kick-off.
Michail Antonio's Equalizer
Against the run of play, West Ham equalized through Michail Antonio, who took advantage of a loose backpass from the Palace defense.
Schlupp's Impact
Jeffrey Schlupp was a key player for Crystal Palace, scoring a brace and playing a pivotal role in their second goal.
Looking Ahead
Both Crystal Palace and West Ham will be hoping to build on their pre-season experiences as they prepare for the start of the Premier League season. Crystal Palace, with their impressive run of form, will be aiming to continue their momentum, while West Ham will be looking to address their recent shortcomings and secure a positive start.
As the curtain falls on the Stateside Cup, both teams will now shift their focus to their respective domestic campaigns. The coming weeks will be crucial for both sides as they prepare for the rigors of the Premier League.
