Ghana and Crystal Palace forward, Jordan Ayew, has stated that he was well aware of where was on the pitch as he scored his side’s winner at West Ham on Saturday in the Premier League.
Ayew poked home from a Martin Kelly knockdown to make the score 2-1 to Crystal Palace but the goal was initially chalked off as Kelly was flagged offside by the assistant referee.
However, referee Michael Oliver was asked by his colleagues manning the Video Assistant Referee to take a second look at the decision.
The review showed that Kelly was onside and that placed Ayew’s goal on the right side of the rules.
After the match, Ayew told Sky Sports that the first decision to disallow the goal was not the right one because he knew he was in a lawful position when he received the ball.
“I thought I was onside but the assistant referee told me that Martin Kelly was, maybe, offside but luckily, it was a goal and we will take it. I know I had to wait for long for the decision but I have noticed that the long waits usually mean that the goal will be given.”
Palace needed to find their powers of recovery on the day after they conceded a Sebastian Haller goal in the 54th minute.
They got the leveler in the 63rd minute through Patrick Van Aanholt penalty after Declan Rice was adjudged to the have handled the ball in the area before Ayew got the winner.
The Ghanaian said that Palace were fortunate to get themselves out of a sticky situation and pick all three points.
“Sometimes, you need a bit of luck and today, we got it. However, I think we deserved the victory. It was a tight game and we will take what we got.”
The goal was Ayew’s 3rd of the season after getting strikes against Manchester United and Aston Villa.