West Ham 1 Crystal Palace 1: Watch Sebastian Haller’s incredible overhead kick as Benteke heads in before seeing red

SEBASTIEN HALLER scored a stunning overhead kick but West Ham missed out on the chance to go fifth as they were held by ten-man Crystal Palace.

Haller sent a thunderbolt into the top corner with a moment of brilliance to show just what he can do when he puts his mind to it.

Sebastian Haller slammed in a breathtaking overhead kick for West HamCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

Haller’s bicycle kick flew into the top cornerCredit: PA:Press Association

Christian Benteke’s header gave Roy Hodgson’s side the leadCredit: Reuters

The £45million has been a frustrating enigma for the Hammers but seems to specialise in the spectacular – and his 55^th minute strike got his team back in the game after Christian Benteke’s first-half opener.

Benteke was then sent off for his second bookable offence but David Moyes’ men were unable to find a winner as Palace secured a deserved point at the London Stadium.

Much of the success the Hammers have enjoyed has been built on having a settled side, especially in defence where Angelo Ogbonna and Fabian Balbuena have been rock solid.

But Balbuena fell victim to a groin strain in training, handing Issa Diop his first start since mid-September – and the pressure was on the Frenchman to come straight back in and get up to speed.

The home side started bright enough as Said Benrahma beat four men with a surging run into the area in the first minute, only for Palace to snuff out the danger.

But from then on it was Palace who settled into the game and looked the far more likely to find a way to goal.

And it was Diop who they were trying to target with Eberichi Eze – the man West Ham were unable to bid for in the summer allowing the Eagles to snap him up from QPR.

Eze constantly found space on the inside left channel, linking up with Wilfried Zaha in an attempt to expose Diop who was clearly struggling to get up to the pace of the game.

Benteke got a second yellow for colliding with Tomas Soucek Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

David Coote had no hesitation in getting his red card out for Benteke after a second bookingCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

The pair linked up well as Eze burst into the area behind Diop but his low shot fizzed across the face of goal with no-one able to get on the end of it.

Benteke quickly sensed he was getting no change out of Ogbonna and decided to play off Diop – and the Belgian lost his marker in the 14^th minute only to head Joel Ward’s cross wide of target.

Briefly the Hammers flickered into life, and Pablo Fornals should really have done better than to head past the far post when unmarked two minutes later.

Having been so impressive at Leeds last week, West Ham were finding it tough going as Palace made easy work of stopping an attack that was pedestrian and lacking spark.

Comfortable in their shape, Hodgson’s side began to find another gear going forward, and in the 34^th minute they took the lead as they exposed Diop ruthlessly again.

Ward was allowed acres of space on the right to whip in a cross and Benteke dashed across the defender to meet it with a firm header into the bottom corner.

It was no more than the visitors from South London deserved, and Moyes was getting more worked up on the touchline as he watched his team being outplayed and out-thought.

But out of nowhere they almost found an equaliser three minutes before the break when Jarrod Bowen cut inside from the right and fired low towards the bottom corner – only for Vicente Guaita to pull off an excellent stop to deny him.

Goalscorer Benteke trudged off but Palace held on for a share of the spoilsCredit: PA:Press Association

Benteke’s first booking came in a similar challenge with Angelo OgbonnaCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

Then in stoppage time before the break Benteke spurned a great chance to double the lead as Andros Townsend teed him up from six yards but the striker could only flick tamely into the arms of Lukasz Fabianski.

Moyes introduced Manuel Lanzini at half-time in a desperate bid to find a spark from somewhere, and the Hammers were clearly in need of some magic after their poor first period.

Step forward Haller on 55 minutes with the kind of goal that was deserving of a packed stadium.

Lanzini found Vladimir Coufal on the right who stood up a high cross, and Haller leapt into the air to connect with a bicycle kick into the top corner.

Palace were stunned at the brilliance from the forward who has struggled to produce the goods often enough since arriving in East London 18 months ago.

Things took a turn for the worse for Hodgson and his side in the 71^st minute when Benteke saw red having caught the face of Tomas Soucek as they went up for a header.

It was harsh for the visitors, and handed the Hammers the chance to pile on the pressure seeking out the win that would take them up to fifth.

Bowen tried his luck from just outside the area and watched the ball fly a yard over the bar.

And Palace regrouped well to deny their hosts any other clear chances to make sure they got a point to show for their efforts – though they breathed a sigh of relief in stoppage time when Declan Rice crashed a shot inches wide of the top corner.

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk