West Ham head coach Rehanne Skinner noted this week that she wanted to make the Chigwell Construction Stadium a fortress for her side, and despite their best efforts Matt Beard’s Liverpool were unable to storm the barricades for a first win of the season. For the second season in a row a late Riko Ueki goal gave West Ham their maiden point of the season and deny Liverpool their first win.
Both sides made one change from their opening line ups of the season. For the Hammers looking to recover from a 3-0 loss to Manchester United last week, new Chilean Summer signing Camila Sáez dropped to the bench and last season’s loan signing made permanent over the Summer Shelina Zadorsky coming into the starting XI.
For the visitors it was Gemma Evans who made way for Jasmine Matthews at the back. Both sides set up with five across the back line, matching each other in the hopes of avoiding an overload for their opposition. West Ham played five at the back when out of possession but when in possession central centre back Amber Tysiak moved into midfield in a defensive midfield role to provide an advanced passing option.
The Lineups
WHU: Szemik, Tysaik, Cooke, Zadorsky, Denton, Mengwen, Brynjarsdóttir, Harries, Gorry (c), Asseyi, Ueki
LIV: Laws, Parry, Matthews, Clark, Bonner, Hinds (c), Höbinger, Holland, Nagano, Smith, Román Haug
The Action
Liverpool started the better of the two sides, Marie Höbinger, Ceri Holland and Taylor Hinds combined well early on down the left hand side. The trio worked the ball well to almost set Holland free charing into the box but for a smart tackles from Shannon Cooke who was operating on the right of a three centre backs.
In the seventh minute of the match a misplaced pass from West Ham keeper Kinga Szemik found Höbinger who played the ball into Sophie Román Haug, whose first touch found Olivia Smith, receiving the ball in an untidy manner before setting herself and finding space. The Canadian then Cruyff- turned onto her left foot fooling the Hammers defence and curled her effort into the far corner past the powerless Szemik in the West Ham goal. There was a hint of offside about Smith’s positioning but the lineswoman saw nothing untoward.
Smith and Liverpool continued to exert their dominance in attack shortly after with Smith coming off the better in a shoulder to shoulder battle with Cooke to win the ball in an offensive position. The move broke down but the Hammers struggled to recover from the early concession of parity with a half volley from Höbinger dipping fortuitously for the home side onto the roof of the net.
A few poor touches consecutively drew groans from the West Ham faithful, but they kept patience with their side. With 24 minutes on the clock in the first half Viviane Asseyi won her side a free kick on the edge of the box. Asseyi’s magnificent effort clipped the crossbar on the way over for a goal kick. Liverpool responded with a free kick of their own after a clever reverse pass found space in West Ham’s midfield and the onrushing Román Haug was unceremoniously halted in her tracks by Hammers captain Katrina Gorry who was agog as the referee raised a yellow card in her direction. West Ham unconvincingly dealt with the resulting set pieces.
West Ham had their better moments in the first half when operating in a more agricultural style as long balls into the box caused issues, with one finding Li Mengwen in space as the first half drew on, the Chinese international’s shot was straight at Rachel Laws who gratefully collected.
The next few minutes saw a flurry of efforts from Liverpool with Holland curling a shot well wide and Höbinger’s effort from inside the box caught by Szemik diving down to her left. A hairy moment for Liverpool rounded out the half as Laws misjudged the path of the ball her clearance was blocked and went out for a goal kick and blushes were spared.
Shortly after the restart, a wonderful through ball from Fūka Nagano found Olivia Smith in behind but her cross was well blocked. Liverpool continued to win the midfield battle as Nagano and Höbinger seemed to be everywhere and on top of each loose ball.
West Ham settled into a more direct style in the second half and it suited them. The Hammers looked to counter with long balls over the top and Liverpool crept steadily higher up the pitch. But after Emma Harries dispossessed Jenna Clark and bore down on the West Ham goal, she then found the bright Anouk Denton whose ball just evaded the heads of Asseyi and Riko Ueki waiting in the box just moments for Gorry’s shot from the edge of the area was blocked.
It was a sign of things to come and Liverpool began to retreat and defend what they had. Denton and Harries continued to threaten Liverpool on the left hand side, and on 60 minutes Denton threaded a ball in behind for Harries whose low cross was agonisingly just out of reach for both West Ham forwards.
West Ham continued to threaten as the half wore on, and in one moment Dagny Brynjarsdóttir took a beautiful touch in the box to find Gorry on the edge but her shot was once again blocked. The Hammers pushed Liverpool with crosses into the box, causing some chaos in the six yard box for Liverpool to deal with.
Eventually the late pressure showed as a looping header from Riko Ueki denied Liverpool all three points. Liverpool responded well and aggressively, a fabulous run from substitute Leanne Kiernan saw her burst through the right side of the West Ham defence, but her shot was well saved by Polish goalkeeper Szemik. Szemik was called into action once again in stoppage time as a cross from the right found Taylor Hinds free on the left side of the box and her driven effort was brilliantly stopped by the foot of Szemik to ensure that the points were shared.
The Halfway Line Player of the match: Olivia Smith. A thorn in the Hammers’ side all afternoon. Smith showed exceptional close control, vision and physicality not to mention an ice cool finish to get Liverpool started on the front foot.
