West Ham have waited all season for an away win in the Women's Super League. On Sunday they finally got one. Kelly Gago's first-half strike was enough for a 1-0 victory at Crystal Palace, a result that lifted the Hammers to ninth and dropped the Eagles to tenth.
A mistake and a clean finish
The game was poor for most of the first half, and the goal came from an error. Palace captain Aimee Everett was caught in possession near the byline by Oona Siren, who played a low cross into the path of Gago. Gago swept the ball past Palace goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin. It was the only shot on target of the half, and it was all West Ham needed.
Palace believed they had levelled shortly before the interval when Bethany England side-footed home from Fuka Tsunoda's cross. The assistant referee's flag went up for offside, and the goal was ruled out.
West Ham on top after the break
The Hammers showed much more attacking threat in the second half and could have finished the game off. Palace's Everett had to clear Leila Wandeler's attempt off the line, and West Ham should have won by a greater margin. Palace rarely threatened and managed only one shot on target all afternoon, content for long periods to hang in the game.
They did throw caution to the wind in the closing stages. Their best chance came after a late scramble in the penalty area, when the ball dropped to Shannon O'Brien, who lifted her effort high over the crossbar. West Ham's defence held firm after that.
What it means
This was only West Ham's second win of the season, and a morale-boosting one. Gago now has two goals in the WSL this campaign, and none has mattered more than this one. For Palace, slipping to tenth keeps the pressure on, with the attack unable to find a way past a West Ham back line that stood firm when it counted.
Match facts: Crystal Palace 0-1 West Ham United (Women's Super League, Sunday 18 October 2026). West Ham goal: Kelly Gago (first half, from an Oona Siren cross after an Aimee Everett error). Bethany England had a first-half goal ruled out for offside. West Ham move up to ninth, Palace drop to tenth.
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