Liverpool staged a late comeback in the WSL on Sunday after Beata Olsson scored in the dying moments to deny West Ham a second victory of the WSL season.
West Ham came into this fixture having failed to beat Liverpool in the Barclays Women’s Super League since February 2020. However opportunity was seemingly presenting itself for that to change. Liverpool arrived as a side winless this term in the WSL on the end of a bruising schedule after playing three away games in eight days.
Liverpool made two changes from the side that lost 3-0 to Aston Villa on Thursday night. Gemma Evans dropped to the bench with Gemma Bonner starting. The other change saw Leanne Kiernan dropped out of the starting eleven with Ceri Holland drafted in. The Welsh woman was drafted in for good reason, Holland has more goal involvements against West Ham than any other Liverpool player in their history. The Reds knew that only victory in East London would lift them from the bottom of the table for Christmas.
For the home side, who could climb as high as tenth with a victory, Rehanne Skinner named an unchanged side from their defeat to Manchester United last weekend. Riko Ueki started for West Ham having scored a late leveller in each of the past two seasons for the Hammers at home to Liverpool. The encounter would see two of the league’s most in form strikers face off. Prior to kick off, West Ham’s Shekiera Martinez had five goals in her last five matches while Liverpool’s Beata Olsson had six in her last seven.
The Lineups
WHU: Szemik; Hanshaw, Tysiak, Nyström, Endo; Siren, Gorry, Ueki; Asseyi, Morgan, Martinez
LIV: Kirby; Parry, Clark, Bonner, Woodham; Maclean, Nagano, Kapocs; Enderby, Holland, Olsson
The Action
West Ham had the better of the early running, after an interception from Ffion Morgan she played a wide through ball to Martinez. Martinez, sprinting to the bye line saw her cross flash across the face of goal with Ueki just marginally unable to make a connection goalwards. Shortly after, it was Morgan herself driving to the bye line, with the Hammers finding space doubling up on the right side of midfield. Running into space in behind Morgan whipped a cross into the box which just eluded the head of Viviane Asseyi.
The Hammers would have counted themselves lucky when the ball bounced against Morgan’s arm in the box from Liverpool’s first real foray forward but the referee waved away any protests. Just past the twenty minute mark, Morgan played a fantastic disguised through ball to find Ueki running through in behind. Gemma Bonner’s outstretched leg caught the Japanese international and Bonner was duly sent off by referee Abigail Byrne. Liverpool moved to a five at the back after the goal looking for defensive solidity.
West Ham had the first shot on target of the match minutes later after good combination play on the left side with Viviane Asseyi and Verena Hanshaw. The Austrian swung a ball into the box but Faye Kirby was equal to Martinez’s meek header. Shortly after the Hammers found a way through again, this time Martinez turned provider. The German played a lovely ball through to Asseyi, clean through on the right Faye Kirby rushed out to smother the ball, making an excellent save from the French striker.
Liverpool had the odd pot shot from distance as the first half minutes wound down. With Fuka Nagano coming closest even if her effort was lifted comfortably over the bar. With only minutes remaining in the first half, there was chaos in the Liverpool box. After Faye Kirby played the ball directly to Morgan, West Ham had a guilt edged chance. Morgan’s shot was blocked before a melee in the box ensued with Liverpool just about able to clear their lines.
West Ham continued to threaten and Martinez was getting closer. She blazed a technically difficult volley over the bar before hooking a shot just wide of the post.
After the break, Liverpool came out looking the side with more composure with set pieces causing West Ham issues. The Reds came extremely close to punishing them when an inch perfect Ceri Holland cross met the head of Hannah Silcock, but she could only direct it into the arms of Kinga Szemik. At the other end West Ham almost had a set piece goal of their own, Asseyi’s deep cross found Amber Tysiak whose intelligent header looped over Kirby but Gemma Evans was able to clear it off the line.
Asseyi almost scored herself with the match approaching the 60 minute mark her near post effort was well stopped by Kirby. From the resulting corner the match burst into life as West Ham did take the lead. It was Ueki again nabbing a brilliant glancing header past Kirby. But just as quickly as West Ham had taken the lead, they lost it. Beata Olsson’s ball in behind found Mia Enderby who fired into the bottom corner on the break.
West Ham were pressing to restore their lead when Liverpool countered again, this time Olsson beat two West Ham markers. Driving into the box Olsson played the ball to Enderby who couldn’t control the ball, it ricocheted to Cornelia Kapocs but the Swede’s shot was blocked. The Hammers won a corner shortly after and the ball came all the way out to Morgan, lurking on the edge of the box. Morgan let fly and restored West Ham’s lead.
Liverpool came desperately close to levelling the scores again after a glancing header from Beata Olsson just missed the mark in front of goal. When she was given a second opportunity, Olsson did not miss. Tapping the ball past Tysiak challenging for it she bore down on goal before composing herself and firing past Szemik. In added time, the Hammers almost had the lead again, running through on goal tying the Liverpool defence up in knots Katrina Gorry’s near post shot trickled past Kirby but also past the post.
West Ham United Player Ratings
GK: Kinga Szemik – 5.5/10 – The Polish number one did not have a huge amount to do, touching the ball only six times in the first half. Was not helped out by her defence at all in the second, left exposed for both goals. Looked nervy with the ball at her feet.
RB: Yu Endo – 7/10 – Really impressive performance from Endo, subbed at half time likely because Denton provides more attacking intent on that right side.
CB: Amber Tysiak – 6.5/10 – Almost scored with an intelligent looping header and but for smart defending, she would have. Switched off for Liverpool’s equaliser.
CB: Eva Nyström – 7.5/10 – A solid presence at the back for her side, exuding calm.
LB: Verena Hanshaw – 7.5/10 – A Gets forward and combines well with Asseyi on the left side.
CM: Oona Siren – 6/10 – Had a quiet match and was replaced by Anna Csiki with thirty minutes to play.
CM: Kartina Gorry – 7.5/10 – Busy in midfield looking to find a pass that would unlock the Liverpool defence.
RW: Ffion Morgan – 8.5/10 – Her tenacity and guile are precious commodities in a bottom of the table scrap such as this. Her vision to play through Ueki which led to Bonner’s red card was magnificent. Scored an excellent goal.
CAM: Riko Ueki – 8/10 – Worked hard, buzzing around the Liverpool box giving the Reds no peace at all. Scored a lovely glancing header. Her third goal in as many matches at home against Liverpool in as many seasons.
LW: Viviane Asseyi – 7/10 – It took her a while to get find her mark from the dead ball this afternoon but once she did, she was excellent. A great cross for Ueki’s opener. However her blind pass was taken advantage of and cost West Ham the three points.
ST: Shekiera Martinez – 5.5/10 – Missed a couple of decent half chances, would have hoped to have had a greater impact.
SUBS
Anouk Denton (46′ replaced Endo) – 5/10 – A touch over-enthusiastic in the challenge at times, gave away a free kick in a great position in the second half. Was not alert to the danger for Liverpool’s equalising goal.
Anna Csiki (59′ Siren) – 6/10 – Did not make an impact on the match after coming on.
Inès Belloumou (76′ replaced Hanshaw) – 6/10 – Struggled to make an impact on the match.
Seraina Piubel (76′ replaced Morgan) – 6/10 – Could not prevent the tide turning in Liverpool’s favour.
Leila Wandeler (87′ replaced Asseyi) – N/A –
Liverpool Player Ratings
GK: Faye Kirby – 7/10 – Made an excellent save from Asseyi shortly after her side went down to 10 players. Still does not look comfortable with the ball at her feet.
RB: Lucy Parry – 6/10 – Came off within the first thirty minutes as Taylor looked to shuffle the pack following the red card.
CB: Jenna Clark – 8/10 – Was a good disruptive presence when asked to go forward for Liverpool. A defensive and organisational rock for Liverpool. A whopping 18 defensive contributions from Clark, a match leading total. She made more than double the clearances of the next highest player on the pitch.
CB: Gemma Bonner – 4/10 – Made a smart early near post clearance with her head. Sent off after a last player challenge on Riko Ueki.
LB: Lily Woodham – 5.5/10 – West Ham were finding a lot of space on her side in the first half with Martinez drifting out wide to support a double up. Was frustrated with herself when mistiming crosses.
DM: Fuka Nagano – 6/10 – Liverpool’s defensive midfield rock, had trouble dictating the play today, a difficult task with only ten players.
CM: Cornelia Kapocs – 6/10 – Playing centrally Kapocs had little impact going forward, having to dig in at the back.
CM: Kirsty Maclean– 6/10 – Looked bright in midfield before making way as a result of the fresh game state following the red card.
RW: Ceri Holland – 8/10 – Played three different positions today, and was a positive influence on the team in all three. Started at right wing moved to right back following the red card before finishing the match at right wing back. Won more tackles than any other player.
LW: Mia Enderby – 7.5/10 – Looks like a player that is lacking confidence but took her chance extremely well. Hopefully that will give her confidence going into next week.
ST: Beata Olsson – 8.5/10 – A quiet first half showing for a player of her calibre and form, a mere six touches in the first forty-five minutes was the joint least on the pitch. Had a much better second half, making her presence felt, setting up the equaliser before ensuring a point returned to Merseyside. Made two out of two successful dribbles.
SUBS
Gemma Evans (24′ Maclean) – 7/10 – She helped to calm her defence after coming on and crucially helped keep them in it.
Hannah Silcock (24′ Parry) – 6.5/10 – Perhaps should have scored but did well to come on and help steady the defence.
Alejendra Bernebe (68′ Silcock) – 6/10 –Made a negligible impact.
Leanne Kiernan– (76′ Woodham) – 6.5/10 – Probed in behind her former club and gave them something to think about. It helped push West Ham back and force mistakes.
