Tottenham Hotspur defeated West Ham 1-0 in the opening match of the Barclays Women’s Super League season at Brisbane Road.
In this fixture last year Spurs ran out 2-1 winners but were knocked out of the Subway Women’s League Cup at the same venue by the same opponents. When West Ham welcomed Spurs to Dagenham in March, West Ham were once again victors.
That result along with a miserable end to the season for Tottenham Hotspur saw Robert Vilahamn relieved of his duties. Former Manchester United assistant Martin Ho replaced him over the summer.. Spurs started with one of their new signings Tōko Koga while the other Cathinka Tandberg began on the bench. Club captain Molly Bartip failed a late fitness test while Ashleigh Neville was missing from the squad. Youngster Araya Dennis got a chance from the start after a loan spell at Southampton last season. Club legend Kit Graham was also back in the squad after 574 days since her last competitive match.
West Ham did not start any of their summer additions. However Ffion Morgan, Sarah Brasero and Leila Wandeler were all available from the bench. The big news for the visitors was that Shekiera Martinez was fit to start after missing West Ham’s final pre-season friendly against Arsenal.
The Lineups
TOT: Kop; Nildén, Rybrink, Hunt, Tōko Koga, Spence, Summanen, Dennis, Holdt, Naz, England
WHU: Szemik; Hanshaw, Nyström, Zadorsky, Denton, Gorry, Siren, Piubel, Ueki, Asseyi, Martinez
The Action
On a temperate afternoon at Brisbane Road, Spurs started the brighter with a brilliant run from Jess Naz helping them in behind. Naz’s ball into the box was well blocked by Nyström. When West Ham’s frontline were able to get on the ball they were beginning to link up well. However much of the early stages were played with either side swapping hopeless crosses into each others box.
Viviane Asseyi and Verena Hanshaw were beginning to combine well on the left side of the pitch. As we approached the halfway point of the half, that combination linked to cut Tottenham open for the first time in the afternoon. However once Hanshaw was played in by the French woman she clipped the ball back to the on rushing Seraina Piubel who could only fire her effort over. Shortly after Riko Ueki nicked possession off the Spurs defence just outside the box but lacked composure with her finish.
With four minutes remaining in the first half West Ham came close to breaking the deadlock. A brilliant whipped ball into the box from Asseyi caused Lize Kop problems as she fumbled the ball on the six yard line. A scramble in the box ensued with Kop saving Martinez’s shot from point blank range.
Olivia Holdt provided the magic to help carve out an opportunity for Spurs just after. Her quick footwork completely astounded Katrina Gorry finding space and Bethany England shortly after. England laid the ball off to Naz who fired over, but it was better from Spurs.
After the restart West Ham should have been ahead, a darting run down the wing from Asseyi gave her the opportunity to whip a cross into the box. She found Piubel in the box at the far post but the Switzerland international could only loft the ball over the bar. Kinga Szemik had to be withdrawn due to injury with presented an opportunity for Megan Walsh to get some WSL minutes.
Walsh escaped an awkward moment when she was caught in possession by England. She did just enough to usher England to a tight angle before Hanshaw returned to support her in closing down the danger. With just minutes to go West Ham conceded a late penalty which England duly converted to make the score 1-0.
Tottenham Hotspur Player Ratings
GK: Lize Kop – 7/10 – Kop made a smart save to deny Martinez late in the first half, had very little to do in the second half.
RB: Josefine Rybrink – 6/10 – The centre back by trade did okay out at full back but struggled against the impressive combination of Hanshaw and Asseyi at times.
CB: Clare Hunt – 8/10 – Hunt was brilliant for Spurs today and consistently halted promising West Ham moves. She ended the match with 17 defensive actions, a match leading total, by some distance.
CB: Tōko Koga – 7/10 – An assured debut from the Japanese international. Kept things ticking from the base of the Spurs defence. Made almost 20 more passes than the next most on the pitch.
LB: Amanda Nildén – 8/10 – Demonstrated wonderful invention at times coming forward to support Naz in attack. Won nine of her 13 duels.
CM: Drew Spence – 6/10 – Spence and Summanen lost the midfield battle with Gorry and Siren.
CM: Eveliina Summanen – 5/10 – Her influence was managed well by the West Ham midfield.
CM: Araya Dennis – 5/10 – Struggled to make an impact on proceedings on her first start in the WSL.
RW: Olivia Holdt – 7/10 – An early shot from range missed the target but wasn’t far off. Showed some good touches and invention in attacking areas completely left Gorry pondering her whereabouts at one point late in the first half.
LW: Jessica Naz – 6/10 – Made a bright start sprinting in behind in the early moments. Showed some good touches around the box.
ST: Bethany England – 7/10 – England linked up the forward line well but was isolated all too often. Dropped back in the second half with Holdt playing up front. Held her nerve from the penalty spot when her team needed her.
Substitutes:
Kit Graham (66′ replacing Dennis)
Cathinka Tandberg (66′ replacing Holdt)
Olgha Aitinen (78′ replacing Spence)
Lena Gunning-Williams (78′ replacing Naz)
Charlie Grant (90′ replacing England)
West Ham United Player Ratings
GK: Kinga Szemik – 6/10 – Had to be withdrawn due to injury after an awkward ball to the back post. Had precious little to do.
LB: Verena Hanshaw – 8/10 – Started really brightly and continued to combine well with Asseyi down the left, the Iron’s biggest threat in the first half. Managed the threat of Dennis effectively.
CB: Eva Nyström – 8/10 – Defensively sound, headed both of the first two Spurs attacks out of the box. Slick defending at times. Won all three of her aerial duels more than any other player on the pitch.
CB: Shelina Zadorsky – 8/10 – The Canadian centre back was impressive. Had the most defensive actions of any player for West Ham.
RB: Anouk Denton – 6/10 – Struggled to keep up with Naz and Nildén at times.
CM: Oona Siren – 7/10 – Constantly nipping in and collecting loose balls for the visitors one of the best at it in the league. Made five tackles, no West Ham playeron the pitch had more, hard to blame her for the defeat.
CM: Kartina Gorry – 5/10 – A positive performance from the Australian to start the season. Will be gutted that her performance was marred by conceding a penalty.
RM: Seraina Piubel – 6/10 – Made smart runs and became available to receive the ball often but was often lacking composure on the ball. Should have scored early in the second half.
LM: Viviane Asseyi – 8/10 – A wonderful bit of flair helped unlock Spurs for the first time in the afternoon. She and Hanshaw are swiftly becoming one of the best partnerships on any wing in the league. Won 10 out of her 14 duels.
SS: Riko Ueki – 7/10 – Played an exceptionally dangerous ball across the box in the first half and lacked composure in front of goal. Did well to hustle and harry the Spurs defence. Switched the play a number of times to find space.
ST: Shekiera Martinez – 6/10 – Such an intelligent and physical presence up front for West Ham but she was quiet today.
Substitutes:
Megan Walsh (56′ replaced Szemik)
Ffion Morgan (63′ replaced Piubel)
Manuela Paví (84′ replaced Martinez)
