West Ham edge Lille in pre season shootout

West Ham beat Lille 1-1 (5-4 on penalties) with Areola making decisive saves in the shootout.

Areola shines in shootout as West Ham edge Lille in pre season

West Ham United came from behind to beat Lille in a friendly at the London Stadium. Olivier Giroud struck for Lille in first-half stoppage time, then Niclas Füllkrug levelled late in the second half to force penalties. In the shootout, Alphonse Areola denied Nathan Ngoy and Lilian Baret to tilt the result in West Ham's favour, with a 5-4 win on penalties. The match ended West Ham's five-match, four-country pre-season tour as they prepare for the Premier League opener at Sunderland.

Areola's performance underscores the value of competition for the goalkeeping role and overall squad depth in pre-season. The win also sends a message about the team’s fighting spirit, as they recovered from a late setback to clinch victory on penalties. Giroud’s goal reminded fans that experience still cuts through in testing moments, even in friendlies. The result offers a positive signal for Head Coach Graham Potter as he builds a balanced, cohesive unit ahead of the league campaign.

Highlights

Preseason lessons linger, shaping expectations for the weeks ahead.