Jermaine Pennant scores as Stoke defeat West Ham 1-0

London: Jermaine Pennant came off the bench to score a late free kick Saturday to give Stoke a 1-0 win at West Ham in the Premier League.

West Ham seemed destined for a third successive clean sheet in the competition as a dour match headed for a goalless draw, only for referee Jonathan Moss to penalize Mohamed Diame for shoving Glenn Whelan in the 82nd minute.

Pennant, who had recently come on as a substitute, curled the free kick over the top of the wall and beyond the reach of keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen to secure Stoke's second Premier League victory of the season.

Mark Hughes' side played the better football throughout, with Kenwyne Jones, Marc Wilson and Jonathan Walters failing to convert first-half chances.