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2024-25 Women's Super League

Manager: Rehanne Skinner
MANCHESTER UNITED
Old Trafford
0 - 3
21 September 2024

Tullis-Joyce

Le TissierT

oone

Clinton (Miyazawa)

Galton (George)

Riviere

Naalsund

Janssen (Malard)

Terland (Williams)

Turner

Geyse (Bizet)

West Ham United women's team were on the end of a 3-0 defeat at Manchester United on the opening day of the 2024/25 Barclays Women's Super League season. Rehanne Skinner handed competitive debuts to summer signings Kinga Szemik, Camila Sáez and Li Mengwen from the off at the Theatre of Dreams. 

The Hammers had Amber Tysiak to thank for not going a goal down inside the first seven minutes of the match. Leah Galton raced to the byline and delivered a cross that Szemik could only tip onto the bar. Elisabeth Terland headed the rebound goalwards, but Belgian central defender Tysiak was able to head the ball away on the goal line. 

Skinner’s side looked solid in the opening 15 minutes, while also threatening on the counter attack. Those in white looked to use the wing-back options to break out and were successful at doing so when Anouk Denton charged forward and Emma Harries had a shot that was well blocked by a back peddling Galton. Manchester United immediately responded to the threat, and debutant Terland should have perhaps tested Szemik with her stretching effort, but the United forward couldn’t turn the ball goalwards.

The home side went ahead on 28 minutes when Geyse caused issues for Sáez, pinching the ball inside the Hammers’ area and finishing beyond Szemik. Galton added a second for United when she cut inside from the left, evaded two challenges and fired in just before the half-time whistle sounded. Kristie Mewis replaced Dagný Brynjarsdóttir in the second half, but again, United were the ones to add to the scoreline. A floated ball into the penalty area found Grace Clinton all on her own inside the area and she steered a header into the bottom corner to make it three. Captain Katrina Gorry had West Ham’s best chance of the match, but her effort from inside the box flew high over the crossbar after she had seemingly ghosted in unchallenged. 

Sáez then had a big opportunity to score from a Mewis set-piece, but her header didn’t test Phallon Tullis-Joyce in the Manchester United goal, and the match ultimately ended in defeat. 

Manchester United:

Tullis-Joyce, Le Tissier, Toone, Clinton (Miyazawa), Galton (George), Riviere, Naalsund, Janssen (Malard), Terland (Williams), Turner, Geyse (Bizet)

LIVERPOOL
Chigwell Construction Stadium
1 - 1 (Ueki)
29 September 2024

Szemik

Tysiak

Cooke

Zadorsky

Denton

Gorry

Brynjarsdottir

Mengwen (Piubel)

Harries (Pavi)

Ueki

Asseyi (Bergman-Lundin)

Riko Ueki headed home an 86th-minute equaliser to earn West Ham United women’s team their first point of the Barclays Women’s Super League (WSL) season with a 1-1 draw at home to Liverpool.

The Hammers battled superbly to come from behind in their first match at the Chigwell Construction Stadium after Olivia Smith broke the deadlock for the visitors in the seventh minute. Following Ueki's late leveller, Kinga Szemik was on hand to produce two stunning reflex saves to deny the visitors an even later winner.

Liverpool:

Laws, Parry (Daniëls), Matthews, Nagano, Román Haug (Kiernan), Smith (Enderby), Hinds, Hobinger, Clark (Fahey), Holland (Lundgaard), Bonner

PORTSMOUTH :
Women's League Cup (Group C)
Chigwell Construction Stadium
6 - 1 (Asseyi 2, Harries 2, Piubel, Ueki)
2 October 2024

Walsh

Cooke

Morrison

Saez (Ueki)

Zadorsky (Mengwen)

Houssein

Siren

Bergman-Ludin

Pavi (Asseyi)

Piubel (Way)

Doe (Harries)

West Ham United women’s team secured a convincing victory in their opening match of the Women’s League Cup, beating Portsmouth 6-1 at Chigwell Construction Stadium. Seraina Piubel put the Hammers ahead inside the opening 13 minutes, but Megan Hornby converted from the penalty spot to bring the Barclays Championship side level. 

Emma Harries would score her first of two goals just before the break, before Viviane Asseyi came off the bench and scored two goals in quick succession to give Rehanne Skinner’s side a massive lead just after half-time. Harries added another on 51 minutes to make it five, before substitute Riko Ueki capped off a big win in Dagenham with a stoppage-time header.

MANCHESTER CITY
Joie Stadium
0 - 2
6 October 2024

Szemik

Tysiak

Saez

Zadorsky (Cooke)

Denton

Gorry

Brynjarsdottir (Pavi)

Mengwen

Harries (Piubel)

Ueki

Asseyi (Siren)

West Ham United women’s team fell to a 2-0 defeat away at Manchester City in the Barclays Women’s Super League.  A resolute performance from the Irons was not enough to contain Gareth Taylor’s City, who found the net in either half courtesy of Lauren Hemp and Mary Fowler.

West Ham began like a team that was full of confidence, bossing possession and controlling the early tempo, and the visitors thought they had made the perfect start inside two minutes as Viviane Asseyi poked the ball into the net. But, the Hammers’ joy was short-lived as referee Elizabeth Simms disallowed the goal for an offside in the build-up.

City were soon in the ascendancy, and Rehanne Skinner’s side couldn't say they weren’t warned. After the hosts flashed their offensive threat when Leila Ouahabi’s cut-back from the byline for Fowler forced a smart save from Kinga Szemik, they got their reward after ten minutes. Fowler dug the ball out of her feet with three defenders around her and clipped it into Hemp, who was given the space and time to finish beyond Szemik.

City turned the screw even more, and the Irons were soon camped permanently in their own box. Hemp almost doubled City’s lead just after the half-hour mark. Yui Hasegawa embarked on a driving run towards the final third and found Hemp, who climbed high at the back post but couldn't keep her header down.

As the half went into the final stages, we managed a rare foray up the other end that saw the impressive Denton beat her marker for pace down the right and whip a delightful ball into the box, which had Riko Ueki stretching, but she couldn’t quite get there to prod it past Ayaka Yamashita.

City came out firing after the restart, as the hosts dominated the opening stages of the second half, and came close to doubling their lead through the influential Hemp, who spurned a hat-trick of opportunities.

Poland international goalkeeper Szemik was proving almost unbeatable, and she came to the Hammers’ rescue once again on 58 minutes. Hemp rose highest to meet a cross from the right just a few yards out, but was somehow denied as the Irons' No1 was alert and clawed it off the line.

Half-time substitute Seraina Piubel offered some respite for the visitors at the other end as her speculative effort was saved by Yamashita, but, in truth, it only seemed a matter of time before a second City goal came. And the inevitable happened, 19 minutes from time, through Fowler. 

EVERTON
Walton Hall
1 - 1 (Denton)
13 October 2024

Szemik

Tysiak

Saez

Zadorsky

Denton

Gorry

Siren (Brynjarsdottir)

Mengwen (Cooke)

Harries (Piubel)

Ueki

Asseyi (Smith)

West Ham United women’s team fought valiantly to earn a point against Everton at Walton Hall Park. Anouk Denton had given the Irons the lead when she fired into the top corner from close range early in the first half. Whilst Rehanne Skinner’s side found themselves under a large amount of pressure for much of the contest, they defended valiantly. However, their resistance was eventually broken when Melissa Lawley’s deflected cross spun off Camila Sáez and over the head of Kinga Szemik to earn the home side a share of the spoils. 

The Hammers made a bright start as Emma Harries and Viviane Asseyi combined to create the game’s opening opportunity. The France international slipped in behind the Toffees defence and tested Brosnan with a firm effort. The hosts responded by almost taking the lead themselves. A driving run and cross from Lucy Hope almost allowed Katja Snoeijs to tap home, but a goalmouth scramble eventually saw referee Richie Wellens give a free-kick in West Ham’s favour. Captain Katrina Gorry played a delightful pass for Denton to run onto a deliver a cross that Riko Ueki tried to steer on target, but her effort flew wide of the mark. Denton would then open the scoring for Skinner’s side moments later. Asseyi did well to hold off Everton skipper Megan Finnigan, before sliding the ball onto Denton who finished emphatically to give her side an early lead. 

The Hammers had to defend their lead desperately at times, with Amber Tysiak, Sáez and second half substitute Shannon Cooke under what felt like a siege of Everton crosses. Seraina Piubel added some much-needed energy to the forward line in the second half. The forward raced away from several markers before laying the ball off to Shelina Zadorsky to strike, but her effort from outside the area flew over.

The home side eventually equalised, and it came with a wicked slice of fortune. A counter attack from the Blues saw Melissa Lawley find space wide on the right, with her cross flicking up off Sáez and over a stranded Szemik to level proceedings. 

ARSENAL
Chigwell Construction Stadium
0 - 2
20 October 2024

Szemik

Tysiak

Cooke (Brynjarsdottir)

Zadorsky

Denton

Gorry

Siren

Mengwen

Piubel (Pavi)

Ueki

Asseyi (Harries)

A second-half penalty from Mariona Caldentey and a late Rosa Kafaji strike condemned West Ham United's women's team to a 2-0 defeat against Arsenal. After a goalless first-half at Chigwell Construction Stadium, the Hammers fell behind after 71 minutes following Caldentey's composed finish from the spot, before Kafaji confirmed maximum points for the Gunners in the closing stages after her drilled close-range effort from Stina Blackstenius' cutback. Having secured a historic first-ever victory over the Gunners last season, and starting this season positively, you could sense the confidence from Rehanne Skinner and players to record back-to-back victories over their London rivals right from the opening whistle, and the home side began dominating possession and territory. 

It took just three minutes to create the first chance of the afternoon in the pouring east London rain when Viviane Asseyi was fouled on the edge of the box. The forward dusted herself down to step up and take the free-kick, only for her attempted curling effort to go over the bar. 

At the other end, the Hammers overplayed at the back and Frida Maanum had a chance to shoot towards goal, but she was off balance and skewed her attempt high and wide. 

The clash was something of a slow burner to begin with, but sprung into life just before the midway point of the first half as the visitors had two chances in quick succession. Firstly, when the ball was worked into the West Ham box and to the feet of Alessia Russo, with the forward’s shot drifting just wide of Kinga Szemik’s far post, before Caldentey picked up the ball on the right flank and fed a pass to an underlapping Emily Fox, but the right-back's effort was stopped by the stretched legs of the Polish goalkeeper.

After the break, both sides spurned good chances, with Katie McCabe darting in from the right, and shooting from a tight angle straight at Szemik. Back came West Ham, who fashioned a chance of their own as Asseyi twisted and turned inside the box before her effort crept just wide of Daphne van Domselaar’s near post.

A quadruple change with just over 30 minutes left signaled Renee Slegers' intent to turn the tide, as Beth Mead, Blackstenius, Kyra Cooney-Cross and Kafaji were introduced. The substitutions almost paid an instant dividend too, when Russo’s clever reverse pass played in Blackstenius, who was only denied by a quality save from Szemik. 

However, midway through the half, the game’s turning point came when Caldentey sent Szemik the wrong way from the spot after Blackstenius was brought down by Amber Tysiak to the left of the area. Substitute Emma Harries then climbed off the bench as the Hammers sought a route back into the game. And the England U23 international almost had an immediate impact, rising above a Gunners defender and glancing Riko Ueki’s cross straight at van Domselaar. 

West Ham suddenly had more of a presence in the final third, but in committing numbers forward the visitors were also presented with opportunities.

Moments after entering the fray in place of Shannon Cooke, Dagný Brynjarsdóttir came agonisingly close to snatching a point as her back-post header was brilliantly kept out by van Domselaar.

With the Irons chasing a leveller, gaps on the break appeared and the visitors made it two soon after as Blackstenius embarked on a marauding run from halfway and picked out Kafaji for a first-time finish to secure maximum points. 

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Gaughan Group Stadium
1 - 2 (ueki)
3 November 2024

Szemik

Denton

Saez

Tysiak

Zadorsky

Siren

Gorry

Piubel

Pavi (Brynjarsdottir)

Ueki

Asseyi (Harries)

West Ham United women’s team suffered late heartache as an added-time Camila Sáez own-goal saw them fall to a 2-1 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur. The Irons 2024/25 WSL campaign looked to be heading in the right direction when Riko Ueki’s towering header put the visitors in front eight minutes before half-time at Brisbane Road.

But Beth England’s close-range finish six minutes after the break wiped out West Ham’s advantage before Sáez’s unfortunate own-goal meant all three points would remain in north London.

Defeat was very harsh on Rehanne Skinner’s side, who deserved more for a performance full of determination, resilience and, at the right times, flair and creativity. To a player, West Ham gave their all, but they were left with nothing to show for their efforts and remain bottom of the WSL table.

Tottenham’s first and only clear chance of the first half came inside seven minutes, when Beth England played a one-two before firing a left-foot shot narrowly over the angle of near post and crossbar

West Ham then had the edge for much of the opening 45 minutes, forcing a number of corners, the last of which was brilliantly won by Asseyi, playing her 50th WSL game for the Club. The France international then delivered to the edge of the six-yard box and Ueki outjumped Bartrip and England to head in. With Amber Tysiak and Sáez defending strongly, Spurs struggled to create anything significant. That said, the hosts had a goal disallowed for offside against Ella Morris, whose first-time cross was finished by England as the flag went up, and Tysiak did well to block a Martha Thomas shot just before the break.

The second half was a much livelier affair, and it took Tottenham less than six minutes to draw level. Szemik made a fine save from Thomas, Matilda Vinberg’s follow-up hit the inside of the post and rebounded to England, who controlled and finished from four yards out.

Tysiak, England and Gorry all had half-chances as the hour-mark came and went, before Ella Morris’s curler was caught by Szemik. Both Skinner and opposite number Robert Vilahamn made changes in the hope of forcing a winning goal but, when it arrived, it was in the cruellest of circumstances.

For Spurs, Jessica Naz’s long-range strike flew narrowly wide and substitute Luana Bühler headed straight at Szemik. At the other end, Spencer held Dagný Brynjarsdóttir’s downward header, Ueki’s first-time shot looped onto the top of the crossbar with the home goalkeeper scrambling, and finally Anouk Denton sent a rasping shot just past the post.

Then, just when it seemed the game would end even, Sáez was pressured as she ran back to her own goal, lobbed the ball over Szemik and watched as it agonisingly bounced inside the right-hand post.

LEICESTER CITY
Chigwell Construction Stadium
1 - 0 (Asseyi)
10 November 2024

Szemik

Denton (Brynjarsdottir)

Mengwen

Tysiak

Zadorsky

Siren

Gorry

Piubel

Pavi (Smith)

Ueki

Asseyi

Viviane Asseyi’s composed finish in first-half stoppage time claimed West Ham United women’s team their first victory of the 2024/25 Barclays Women’s Super League campaign with a 1-0 success at home to Leicester City.

As it looked like the two sides were going to head into the break with the score goalless, Manuela Paví brilliantly unlocked the Leicester defence with her trickery before threading the ball to Asseyi, who showed superb calmness to round goalkeeper Janna Leitzig and slot the ball into an empty net.

While there was only one goal in the game, Rehanne Skinner’s side created an abundance of opportunities in a dominant display at Chigwell Construction Stadium. Riko Ueki was a constant threat, and she was denied from close range by Leitzig in the second half, as Oona Siren and Asseyi also tested the Leicester shot-stopper on multiple occasions.

The Irons’ bright start continued with impressive runs from Ueki and Katrina Gorry driving Skinner’s side up the pitch, but both chances were cut out by the Leicester defence. Ueki, fresh from a brilliant headed goal in north London last weekend, then fired an effort at Leitzig before the flag was raised for offside.

Responding to the Hammers’ early dominance, Leicester fashioned an opening when Hannah Cain broke into the penalty area, but the forward dragged her left-footed shot wide of Kinga Szemik’s right-hand post. Minutes after, Irons skipper Gorry saw an effort from range held by Leitzig. Skinner’s side continued to pose a threat in the attacking third as Shelina Zardosky’ stabbed effort from Asseyi’s free-kick was saved by Leitzig before Siren’s strike from the edge of the box flew over the crossbar.

Nine minutes before the break, Gorry’s sliding challenge in the center circle won possession back superbly for the Hammers, who had four attackers charging at Leicester defence. The captain played Ueki through but her cross was intercepted by Leitzig, with Seraina Piubel, Paví and Gorry waiting to pounce.

Skinner’s side were by far the better team in the first half and in the sixth minute of added time, they found a deserved opener. A weaving run from Paví allowed her to thread Asseyi through on goal, and the France international kept her cool to round Leitzig before slotting the ball home.

The Hammers did not let half-time derail their momentum as they came out with the same intensity at the start of the second period, which was only two minutes old when the hosts came close to doubling their advantage. A well-timed flick from Asseyi sent left-back Anouk Denton darting into the penalty area and her cross found Siren on the edge of the box, whose well-struck volley was held by the goalkeeper.

Just after the hour mark, Paví unleashed a venomous right-footed effort from the right corner of the box that rippled the side netting, as the Hammers remained in control. Moments later, Ueki burst into the penalty area and looked to be taken down but after the referee waved away the appeals, the striker got back up to fire a low strike at goal that Leitzig parried away.

Both sides struggled to create many clear-cut chances in the latter stages of the game, with Courtney Nevin firing a free-kick wide of the mark for the visitors while Asseyi looked to add a second late in the day, but her fierce effort from close range stung the gloves of Leitzig. Five minutes were added at the end of the second half, but the Hammers held on to claim their first league victory of the season,

BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION
Amex Stadium
2 - 3 (Gorry 2)
16 November 2024

Szemik

Denton

Tysiak

Zadorsky

Smith (Cooke)

Siren

Gorry (Brynjarsdottir)

Piubel

Pavi (Harries)

Asseyi

Ueki

After they fought back to level proceedings from 2-0 down, a late goal from Fran Kirby saw West Ham United women’s team cruelly suffer a 3-2 defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion. The Hammers looked like they were on their way to recording a hard-earned point when skipper Katrina Gorry cancelled out goals from Kiko Seike and Rachel McLauchlan with a brace within the space of five second-half minutes, which saw the Hammers Captain net her first two goals for the Club from long range.

But the Australian international was withdrawn from the pitch through injury just minutes after levelling the contest, and moments later, Fran Kirby scored what proved to be the winning goal as she fired the ball home in at the near post with eight minutes to play. The frantic, end-to-end nature of the second half countered what was a mostly uneventful first period, with both sides cagey in possession. The first shot on target came 18 minutes into the game, as Poppy Pattinson’s curling left-footed effort from outside the box was comfortably saved by Kinga Szemik.

The Poland international was then called upon two minutes later to brilliantly tip Nikita Parris’ near-post effort behind for a corner with a superb one-handed reflex stop.  

While the hosts dominated the early shot statistics, the Hammers looked a threat on the counter attack. Anouk Denton slipped Riko Ueki through in the box but Brighton cleared their lines before the striker, who netted away at the Seagulls last term, could get her shot away. However, just as West Ham were finding their feet in the contest, Brighton broke the deadlock on the half-hour mark. Following some neat build-up play, McLauchlan latched onto Kirby’s flick and curled the ball with her left foot beyond the dive of Szemik.

The Irons showed no signs of letting their heads drop and enjoyed a spell of possession on the edge of Brighton’s penalty area. Both Denton and Ueki worked space for crossing opportunities, but the hosts dealt with the deliveries.

As the first half came to a close, the Seagulls threatened to double their advantage when Kirby, after playing a one-two with Vicky Losada, saw her curling effort from close range deflect out for a corner.

The start of the second period yielded half-chances for both sides before the Hammers worked their best chance of the contest. After intricate work between Oona Siren and Seraina Piubel, Gorry stood up a cross for Ueki to attack, but the forward’s header looped into the grateful grasp of Sophie Baggaley.

Rehanne Skinner’s side continued to push for an equaliser and saw another chance go begging as Ueki’s headed knock-down was agonisingly turned over by Piubel from close range. This came minutes before Seike’s bobbling effort trickled into the far corner to put the Seagulls two ahead.

The Hammers could have let their heads drop, but just three minutes later, they pulled a goal back as Gorry, who had just seen a shot crash off the bar, arrowed a strike from distance into the bottom corner.

Then, West Ham and Gorry were in dreamland as the Irons’ skipper, again from outside the box, fired the ball home at the near post to bring Skinner’s outfit level in a dramatic turn of events.

It looked for all the world that the momentum would swing in the Hammers’ favour, but they were dealt a blow when Gorry, on a hat-trick, was forced off through injury. The tides then turned again as with eight minutes remaining, England international Kirby struck past Szemik from inside the box to condemn the visitors to a cruel defeat on the south coast.

LONDON CITY LIONESSES : Subway Women's League Cup
4 - 1 (Asseyi 2, Pavi, Ueki)
Hayes Lane
24 November 2024

Walsh M.

Smith

Zadorsky (Saez)

Cooke

Mengwen (Denton)

Lundin

Brynjarsdottir

Piubel (Ueki)

Harries (Siren)

Asseyi

Pavi

A brace from Viviane Asseyi and goals from Manuela Paví and Riko Ueki helped West Ham United women’s team to a 4-1 victory at London City Lionesses in the Women’s League Cup. Two quick-fire goals in the second half killed the contest off to secure the Irons the three points, which maintains their position at the top of the Group C standings. French international Asseyi gave the Hammers lift off after 12 minutes with a composed finish under Grace Moloney, but the lower-league hosts levelled the tie in first-half stoppage time through a curling effort from Sofia Jakobsson.

The second half was mostly uneventful with little opportunities to write home about, but the winning goal eventually came 20 minutes from time, as Paví latched onto a mistake in the home side’s defence to fire in her first goal for the Club.

The Hammers were in dreamland a minute later, as Asseyi showed her quality to put the ball round Moloney before slotting home her second and Rehanne Skinner’s side’s third, and second-half substitute Ueki made sure of the three points in the fifth minute of stoppage time.

CRYSTAL PALACE
Chigwell Construction Stadium
5 - 2 (Asseui, Denton, Gorry, Pavi, Piubel)
8 December 2024

Szemik

Denton

Tysiak

Zadorsky

Smith

Siren

Gorry

Piubel

Pavi (Harries)

Asseyi

Ueki

West Ham United came from two goals down to beat Crystal Palace 5-2, with five of the goals coming in an enthralling first half. In a game that matched the pulsating conditions in east London, the visitors stormed to an early two-goal lead through strikes from Millie Gejl and Indiah-Paige Riley. But Rehanne Skinner’s side immediately paved a way back into the derby when Viviane Asseyi netted her third goal in two matches. The momentum was with the Hammers and with their tails up, they forced an equaliser as Seraina Piubel, who had laid the ball on a plate for Asseyi moments earlier, bagged her first goal in England’s top flight.

The turnaround was then complete with just two minutes of the first half remaining when Asseyi rounded the goalkeeper to tee up Manuela Paví for the simplest finish, sending the Claret and Blue faithful into raptures. After a number of chances went begging in the second half, Anouk Denton added number four with a stunning strike from the edge of the box. And Katrina Gorry’s powerful finish from close range sealed the three points and the bragging rights for the Irons, lifting them up to eighth in the WSL standings.

SOUTHAMPTON : Subway Women's League Cup
Chigwell Construction Stadium
3 - 0 (Brynjarsdottir, Zadorsky, [og])
11 December 2024

Walsh M.

Mengwen

Cooke

Saez

Smith (Zadorsky)

Houssein (Siren)

Lundin

Brynjarsdottir

Walsh S. (Way)

Harries (Ueki)

Piubel (Pavi)

West Ham United women’s team booked their spot in the quarter-finals of the Women’s League Cup with a resounding 3-0 victory against Southampton at Chigwell Construction Stadium. The Hammers were too strong for the Barclays Women’s Championship outfit and punished their opponents in the second half as Shelina Zadorsky’s first goal for the Club, a Paige Peake own-goal and a Dagný Brynjarsdóttir strike sealed Rehanne Skinner’s side’s spot in the final eight of the competition.

The Irons could have hit more than the three past the Saints as Brynjarsdóttir sent her first-half penalty over the bar, but it failed to affect the overall result as the hosts made it three wins from three games in Group C and will head into the knockout stages brimming with confidence.

The first half failed to live up to the breathtaking heights of Sunday’s first period, but the Hammers enjoyed a lot of the ball as they looked to break down the Southampton defence. A number of half chances were created by the home side, which saw Marika Bergman Lundin go close with a skewed effort and Kirsty Smith loop a shot wide of the target, before they were handed a golden chance to break the deadlock seven minutes before the break.

Emma Harries, playing a more central role up front, was taken down in the box and referee Amy Fearn wasted no time in pointing to the spot. However Brynjarsdóttir, donning the captain’s armband, sent her spot kick high over the bar.

Looking to turn the tie in her side’s favour, Skinner turned to the bench at half-time and made a double substitution with Manuela Paví and Zadorsky coming on for Seraina Piubel and Kirsty Smith, and the manager’s changes worked a treat as the latter was on hand to give the Hammers the lead on the hour mark. 

Paví launched a free-kick into the box that Shannon Cooke attacked brilliantly and although her header was saved by Benedicte Haland, Zadorsky was in the right place to put home the rebound. The Hammers continued their dominance as they went in search of a second goal with Paví unleashing two strikes in quick succession. Her first was saved by Haland before she then prodded an effort that just evaded the far post.

Thankfully, the Irons were not left to rue those opportunities as they doubled their advantage on 76 minutes when Brynjarsdóttir’s cross was diverted into her own net by Peake. Wave after wave of Claret and Blue attacks kept tormenting the Saints defence and although Cooke came so close with a header that struck the post, the hosts did eventually make it three in second-half stoppage time, as Brynjarsdóttir made up for the missed penalty by thumping the ball home after a melee in the penalty area.

It was the perfect way to sign off at Chigwell Construction Stadium in 2024, as the Hammers go in search of a fourth successive victory at Villa Park on Sunday in a return to Barclays Women’s Super League action.

ASTON VILLA
Villa Park
1 - 3 (Asseyi)
25 December 2024

Szemik

Denton

Tysiak

Zadorsky

Mengwen (Cooke)

Siren (Brynjarsdottir)

Gorry

Piubel

Pavi (Smith)

Asseyi

Ueki

Despite a spirited performance, West Ham United women’s team fell to a 3-1 defeat at Aston Villa in the Barclays Women’s Super League. The game was only three minutes old when Adriana Leon placed the ball into the bottom-left corner from just outside the box to give the home side the advantage.

But as they did last weekend, the Hammers responded, through a Viviane Asseyi header - her third WSL goal of the campaign - and went on to have the ball in the back of the net again, but Riko Ueki was deemed to be offside. That was a wake-up call for Villa, who regained the lead two minutes before half-time when Leon, netting her second, finished off a flowing team move. That’s not to say the Hammers didn’t push for a leveller, in fact they had a plethora of opportunities to claim at least a point at Villa Park - notably chances for Manuela Paví and Katrina Gorry that were saved by Sabrina D’Angelo.

With West Ham pushing to restore parity, Villa broke to net a third with eight minutes remaining, as former Hammer Kenza Dali curled the ball into the top-left corner, bringing an end to the Hammers’ run of three victories on the bounce ahead of the Christmas break.

CHELSEA
Chigwell Construction Stadium
0 - 5
19 January 2025

Szemik

Denton

Tysiak

Zadorsky

Mengwen (Cooke)

Smith

Siren (Martinez)

Gorry

Piubel (Pavi)

Asseyi

Ueki

West Ham United’s women’s team's return to Barclays Women’s Super League action ended in a 5-0 defeat by leaders Chelsea at Chigwell Construction Stadium. Catarina Macario, Erin Cuthbert, Aggie Beever-Jones, Sandy Baltimore all found the net for the Blues before an own-goal from Amber Tysiak completed a painful afternoon in east London.

Chelsea came into the game having scored 31 goals conceded just six in ten WSL matches, and their impressive form continued in Dagenham. West Ham had won their three home matches before the mid-season break, but Rehanne Skinner's side were unable to extend that run against Sonia Bompastor's title chasers.

Chelsea created chances throughout, with Beever-Jones and Sjoeke Nüsken going close early on, before Macario latched onto Nüsken's flick inside the box and acrobatically swept a left-foot volley into the far corner on eleven minutes. Macario then fired high and wide of Kinga Szemik’s goal, before the Poland goalkeeper tipped Mayra Ramírez's header to safety, before Cuthbert doubled the Blues’ advantage. Nathalie Björn intercepted a loose pass forward before laying it off for Cuthbert, who tucked a low drive into the bottom corner from the edge of the box. Szemik was called into action again to make a stunning near-post save to deny Baltimore. Anouk Denton then did likewise, plunging to head Beever-Jones’ downward header off the line.

The Hammers’ pursuit of a route back into the game gathered momentum as the game passed the half-hour when, first, Seraina Piubel sprinted down the left wing and dragged her effort narrowly wide, before Denton embarked on a trademark marauding run to the edge of the box, only to be crowded out by the Chelsea defence.

However, the visitors attacked again and scored a third a minute before half-time. Tysiak’s miscued clearance fell kindly to Beever-Jones in the box, and the England international winger rifled into the far corner. Before referee Amy Fearn blew for half-time, Szemik made a fine save to deny Baltimore Chelsea's fourth. Having excelled on loan at German club Freiburg before Christmas, forward Shekiera Martinez was sent on for her West Ham debut from the bench at the break, but Chelsea continued in the same attacking vein, with Baltimore adding a fourth to effectively end the contest seven minutes after the restart.

Skinner’s side, to their credit, never gave up in their attempt to reduce the arrears. Moving on to Katrina Gorry’s through ball, Riko Ueki raced through the left-hand channel before cutting inside a defender to send a blistering right-footed drive towards goal that was saved by Hannah Hampton.

Chelsea resumed their dominance, however, as substitute Oriane Jean-François hit the side-netting from close range before Ashley Lawrence and Maika Hamano were both brilliantly denied by our No1 Szemik. As the game headed towards its conclusion, an unfortunate own-goal from Tysiak, who turned Cuthbert's cross past her goalkeeper, completed the scoring.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR : Subway Women's League Cup
Brisbane Road
2 - 1 (Piubel, Smith)
22 January 2025

Walsh M.

Smith

Cooke

Saez

Mengwen (Denton)

Siren (Gorry)

Lundin

Piubel (Asseyi)

Harries (Ueki)

Pavi (Tysiak)

Martinez

West Ham United women’s team booked their place in the semi-finals of the Subway® Women’s League Cup with a 2-1 victory at London rivals Tottenham Hotspur. Rehanne Skinner’s side came from behind at Gaughan Group Stadium in an entertaining first half which saw goals from Seraina Piubel and Kirsty Smith wipe out the home team’s early lead, which came via a header from former Hammer Martha Thomas.

The Irons showed great character and resilience to weather an early Spurs storm, and came out the other side on the front foot, forcing an equaliser with a superb counter-attack that Piubel rounded off in style.

That proved to be the first of two goals in the space of five first-half minutes, as West Ham went ahead thanks to a long-range Smith free-kick that evaded everyone in the box before nestling in the far corner. Goalkeeper Megan Walsh donned the captain’s armband in east London, and made instinctive stops to deny Thomas and Matilda Vinberg, but the Hammers controlled proceedings until the end to tee up a semi-final tie at Chelsea in early February.

Before Thomas broke the deadlock, she glanced an effort wide of Walsh’s far post and then came inches away from netting her second of the game. However, the striker was denied by the left-hand post, as her trickling strike rebounded off the upright and into the grateful grasp of Walsh.

The Irons set out in a 4-4-2 formation, with Emma Harries supporting full debutant Shekiera Martinez up front, and the pair linked up well in the early stages of the tie. The Germany U23 international split the Spurs backline to feed an onrushing Harries, but the pass was slightly overhit, and Eleanor Heeps was able to claim.

Walsh had to be called upon twice midway through the first half to save Hayley Raso’s deflected effort and catch an instinctive Thomas header, while up the other end, Manuela Paví’s cross was flicked just wide by Martinez. With ten minutes to go before half-time, the Hammers were building in confidence and felt they should have been awarded a penalty when Piubel appeared to be dragged down in the box. There were huge Claret and Blue appeals, but referee Ryan Atkin was unmoved.

That only fired up the Hammers, who took the game by the scruff of the neck and produced a scintillating counter-attack to draw level. Martinez did well to hold off Maite Oroz inside her own half before playing Harries through down the line. The 22-year-old latched onto the pass to produce an inch-perfect cross for Piubel, who slotted home with conviction.

The cup tie then came to life with a plethora of chances, creating an enthralling end to the first half. Piubel saw an effort from point-blank range blocked before Raso struck the post, and Spurs were left to rue that missed opportunity as the Hammers completed a first-half turnaround.

A free-kick from Kirsty Smith from 30 yards out ghosted past everybody in the penalty area and snuck into the far corner to give the Irons the upper hand at the break.​ Determined to turn the tie around, Robert Vilahamn made four substitutions at the break, and his side started the second period on the front foot. They could have been level had it not been for an outstanding reflex save from Walsh, who turned Thomas’ near-post effort round for a corner with her left boot. Spurs skipper Bethany England then went close with a header and was also denied by a brilliant block from Shannon Cooke.

The second half didn’t live up to the frantic nature of the first, but both sides had chances in the latter stages of the contest. Walsh once again proved to be razor-sharp in goal, making a stunning one-handed save to tip Vinberg’s shot over the bar, before substitute Viviane Asseyi bent a shot from outside of the box just wide of the far post.

EVERTON
Chigwell Construction Stadium
2 - 0 (Asseyi [pen], Martinez)
26 January 2025

Szemik

Hanshaw

Saez

Tysiak

Denton

Siren (Brynjarsdottir)

Gorry

Asseyi

Ueki

Piubel (Harries)

Martinez (Pavi)

A first West Ham United women’s team goal for Shekiera Martinez and a Viviane Asseyi penalty gave the Hammers a deserved victory at Chigwell Construction Stadium, as they scored two unanswered goals to pick up three points against Everton. Rehanne Skinner’s side were relentless in the first half, lighting up east London with a terrific attacking display, and boasted a two-goal lead at the break.

The game was only ten minutes old when Martinez broke the deadlock, as she headed home Asseyi’s corner, who was then on hand to make it two from 12 yards after Seraina Piubel was fouled in the area late in the first half. West Ham had to work hard for their clean sheet, though, with debutant Verena Hanshaw and Camila Sáez producing stunning blocks to deny two successive efforts from Katja Snoeijs with the score at 1-0.

The Irons went close to adding a third in the second period through Riko Ueki, but the damage was done in the first half, and the Hammers claimed all three points to leapfrog the Toffees into eighth place in the Barclays Women’s Super League standings.

LIVERPOOL : Adobe Women's FA Cup
Totally Wicked Stadium
0 - 1
2 February 2025

Szemik

Denton (Smith)

Nystrom

Zadorsky

Hanshaw

Siren (Brynjarsdottir)

Gorry

Asseyi (Ademiluyi)

Ueki

Piubel (Pavi)

Martinez

REPORT:

CHELSEA : Subway Women's League Cup
Kingsmeadow
0 - 2
5 February 2025

Szemik

Smith

Nystrom (Saez)

Zadorsky

Mengwen

Hanshaw

Siren (Brynjarsdottir)

Gorry

Asseyi

Martinez (Piubel)

Ueki (Pavi)

REPORT:

BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION
Chigwell Construction Stadium
3 - 1 (Asseyi [pen], Martinez, Ueki)
16 February 2025

Szemik

Smith

Nystrom

Zadorsky

Hanshaw

Siren

Gorry

Pavi (Harries)

Martinez (Piubel)

Asseyi

Ueki (Brynjarsdottir)

REPORT:

ARSENAL
Meadow Park
3 - 4 (Tysiak 2, Martinez)
2 March 2025

Szemik

Smith

Nystrom

Tysiak

Saez (Denton)

Hanshaw (Zadorsky)

Siren

Brynjarsdottir (Gorry)

Martinez (Ueki)

Asseyi

Piubel (Pavi)

REPORT:

MANCHESTER CITY
Chigwell Construction Stadium
1 - 1 (Pavi)
5 March 2025

Szemik

Denton

Nystrom (Saez)

Tysiak

Zadorski (Ademiluyi)

Hanshaw

Gorry (Brynjarsdottir)

Siren

Martinez (Pavi)

Piubel

Ueki

REPORT:

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Chigwell Construction Stadium
2 - 0 (Asseyi, Rybrink [og])
23 March 2025

Szemik

Denton (Smith)

Zadorsky

Tysiak

Hanshaw

Siren (Brynjarsdottir)

Gorry

Matinez (Ademiluyi)

Asseyi

Pavi (Piubel)

Ueki

REPORT:

CHELSEA
Kingsmeadow
2 - 2 (Martinez 2)
30 March 2025

Szemik

Denton (Smith)

Zadorsky (Pavi)

Tysiak

Mangwen (Nystrom)

Hanshaw

Siren

Gorry (Brynjarsdottir)

Martinez

Asseyi

Ueki (Piubel)

REPORT:

MANCHESTER UNITED
Chigwell Construction Stadium
0 - 0
19 April 2025

Szemik

Mengwen

Nystrom

Zadorski

Tysiak

Hanshaw

Siren

Gorry (Brynjarsdottir)

Martinez (Pavi)

Asseyi (Piubel)

Ueki

REPORT:

CRYSTAL PALACE
VBS Community Stadium
7 - 1 (Martinez 4, Harries 2, Asseyi)
27 April 2025

Szemik

Denton (Smith)

Zadorsky

Tysiak (Saez)

Hanshaw

Siren

Gorry (Brynjarsdottir)

Martinez (Ademiluyi)

Asseyi

Piubel (Harries)

Ueki

REPORT:

ASTON VILLA
Chigwell Construction Stadium
2 - 3 (Martinez, Ueki)
4 May 2025

Szemik

Denton

Zadorsky

Tysiak (Ademiluyi)

Hanshaw (Smith)

Siren (Pavi)

Gorry

Martinez

Asseyi

Piubel

Ueki

REPORT:

LEICESTER CITY
King Power Stadium
2 - 4 (Asseyi 2)
10 May 2025

Szemik

Denton

Zadorsky (Tysiak)

Nystrom

Hanshaw (Smith)

Gorry (Ademiluyi)

Martinez

Pavi (Siren)

Asseyi

Piubel (Harries)

Ueki

REPORT:

WEST HAM UNITED                                                ONLINE MUSEUM

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