© Provided by Daily MailMailOnline logo

Sebastien Haller produced one of the most spectacular goals of the Premier League season as West Ham fought back against Crystal Palace.

Haller had barely seen the ball in the first half but he sprang high, twisted in the air and smashed an overhead kick past Vicente Guaita early in the second.

The goal deserved a bigger audience but boss David Moyes savoured it, clenching his fists and letting out a jubilant roar.  

Sebastien Haller scored a goal of the season contender when he netted with a bicycle kick

© Provided by Daily Mail

It was Haller's seventh of the season - his first since another screamer won the game at Sheffield United - in a tale of two strikers at the London Stadium.

The 45 minutes belonged to Christian Benteke who gave Palace the lead and might have gone into the interval with a hat-trick already in the bag.

Benteke's night turned sour, however, when he was sent off when shown a second yellow card by referee David Coote soon after Haller's equaliser.

Both cautions were for aerial challenges. The first when he caught Angelo Ogbonna in the face as they contested a header.

The second offence was very similar, climbing high and smacked Tomas Soucek across the face with his forearm, although there did not appear to be any intent to hurt either opponent.  

Benteke contested the decision and Roy Hodgson, clearly unhappy, engaged fourth official Graham Scott in a long conversation on the touchline.

West Ham made a positive opening, fully aware of what another three points would mean for their ambition to turn this impressive run of form into a genuine raid on the European places in what is a congested Premier League table.

Moyes handed a first home Premier League start to Said Benrahma, the former Brentford striker who launched into an early dribble, jinking into the penalty area past three Palace players before he was crowded out. 

Declan Rice blazed over from long range but the visitors, confidence high after holding Tottenham to a draw at Selhurst Park on Sunday, ventured forward with menace when they decided to spring out and attack.

Summer signing Said Benrahma glides past Wilfried Zaha early on in Wednesday's game

© Provided by Daily Mail

Eberechi Eze eased into penalty box with an effortless change of pace, bounced a one-two off Benteke and threaded a dangerous ball square across goal. Palace had no-one on hand to convert but the threat was clear.

Moments later, Benteke climbed above Issa Diop only to head wide from a cross by Joel Ward, which proved to be the route to their opener. 

Before then, Pablo Fornals ought to have done better with a header. Fornals was unmarked and 12 yards out when found by Vladimir Coufal but headed wide.

Ward and Benteke linked up to open the scoring, 10 minutes before half time. Ward's delivery came from the right and Benteke lost Diop to direct a firm header past Lukasz Fabianski.

It was his third in three games, as many as in his previous 48 appearances for the club, and more chances came his way.

First a header wide and then an attempted flick, which did not fool Fabianski but Diop, making his first appearance in six weeks in the absence of injured Fabian Balbuena, was struggling to keep him under control.

Haller celebrates alongside Benrahma after scoring a fantastic equaliser for West Ham

© Provided by Daily Mail

Vicente Guaita ensured Palace took their lead into half time with a fine save from a deflected shot by Jarrod Bowen.

Ten minutes into the second half, however, Guaita was beaten by Haller's acrobatic volley to despatch another cross from Coufal.

Fabianski saved from Patrick van Aanholt before Crystal Palace were reduced to 10 men.

Rice went closest to a winner with a fierce drive, inches wide from distance in stoppage time, and West Ham had to settle for another point to their stealthy pursuit of the top four.