On a brisk Wednesday evening in East London, West Ham welcomed Manchester City to the Chigwell Construction Stadium. Rehanne Skinner’s side were looking to build on the positives of their 4-3 defeat to Arsenal on Sunday where they competed well and were a Beth Mead goal line clearance away from snatching a point. Manchester City also faced North London opposition on Sunday, finding their way to a narrow win over Tottenham Hotspur.
West Ham and City made changes to their teams from the weekend’s action. Both side’s were missing their top scorer in the league this season from their starting elevens. West Ham striker Viviane Asseyi was suspended after collecting her fifth yellow card of the season against the Gunners while Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw started the evening on the bench. The Hammers returned captain Katrina Gorry to the starting eleven with Riko Ueki, both of whom had been away at the She Believes cup in the USA last week. Anouk Denton and Shelina Zadorsky also returned to the starting line up for the Hammers.
For the visitors Arsenal loanee Laura Weinroither made her first start for City while Gracie Prior, Lily Murphy, Jess Park and Jill Roord all came into the starting line up. The Halfway Line player of the Match on the weekend Aoba Fujino was missing from the squad while WSL all time top scorer Viviane Miedema started from the bench.
The Line ups:
WHU: Szemik, Denton, Nyström, Tysiak, Zadorsky, Hanshaw, Siren, Gorry, Piubel, Martinez, Ueki
MCI: Yamashita, Casparij, Aleixandri, Prior, Weinroither, Hasegawa, Murphy, Roord, Kerolin, Park, Fowler
The Action:
It was a lively start to proceedings, Anouk Denton dispossessed Kerstin Casparij early on only for her cross to just miss the head of Riko Ueki. Manchester City were threatening with crosses of their own but in the early minutes the Hammers rear guard were able to repel the visitors attacks. West Ham looked to threaten on the counter, a dangerous cross from Shekiera Martinez was an early test that Ayaka Yamashita passed.
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Kerolin looked threatening and just after the 10th minute the Brazilian beat two West Ham defenders in the box to put a tantalising cross into the box but nobody in sky blue was gambling for the visitors when the cross came in. As Manchester City probed, Skinner could be heard on the touchline attempting to push her players up the field to press the visitors but City were starting to pick their way through, a short flurry of shots on goal came to nothing as the match approached the 15 minute mark.
West Ham’s high press was starting to see results, Seraina Piubel stole in behind Weinroither after the Austrian full back let a ball run when she shouldn’t have. Piubel chipped it to the back post looking for Martinez but Laia Alexandri was able to put the ball behind for a corner. City bit back as Lily Murphy was played in behind with 10 minutes to play in the half, she demonstrated her lightning pace and cut back onto her right foot but her shot was well stopped by Kinga Szemik.
However it was West Ham who would have the best chance of the half, with their high press once again causing issues for City. Oona Siren was able to disposes Jill Roord in the middle of the City half, her pass to Piubel was perfect, playing her through on goal. The Swiss forward’s effort looked set for the bottom corner of the net but for a magnificent outstretched palm from Yamashita down to her left to keep the scores level. West Ham continued to have the better of proceedings as the half came to a close, and Martinez got a header away but it was straight at the City goalkeeper as the clock ran down.
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City youngster Lily Murphy came close for the visitors before half time. Roord had set her up before she once again cut back onto her right foot and fizzed her effort just wide with Szemik scrambling. The final action of the half saw Ueki’s shot well saved by Yamashita after an inch perfect dead ball cross from Verena Hanshaw had set her up.
Both sides made changes at half time, Casparij came off for Leia Ouahabi while for West Ham Manuela Paví was introduced for Martinez. It was a slow start to the second half but Manchester City should have been ahead with 60 minutes on the clock. Roord was able to pick Eva Nyström’s pocket she bore down on goal and despite only having Szemik to beat attempted to pull the ball back, it missed Mary Fowler but found Murphy whose shot was brilliantly saved by Szemik. After that the moment had arrived for the introduction of Khadija Shaw who had a shot saved within seconds of being introduced, Roord’s follow up was also well stopped. Shortly after Shaw was at it again but her bicycle kick was straight at Szemik.
City were really upping the intensity and Fowler’s ball across the box was missed by all those attacking for the away side. The resulting corner almost had City ahead as the ball fell fortuitously to Weinroither whose shot on the turn rattled the underside of the crossbar. Shaw headered wide moments later and West Ham were holding on. City were peppering the West Ham goal after the Hammers began to struggle to continue with their high pressing game.
City were throwing everything at this one with just over 10 minutes to play, Miedema was introduced from the bench. The substitutions for the visitors had the desired effect as both combined for the winner. After Szemik failed to deal with a ball into the box, Shaw poked in from close range to give City the lead. As the seconds ticked down and the inevitable victory for City seemed to be drawing close a late flurry from West Ham took City by surprise Manuela Paví burst into the box and holding off Weinroither went in off the post to hand the Hammers a richly deserved point.
West Ham United Player Ratings
Kinga Szemik – 8/10 – Made a couple of smart saves in a first half where she would have been surprised at her lack of action. Was called upon to make a phenomenal save on the hour mark from Murphy.
Verena Hanshaw – 8/10 – The Austrian’s delivery from the dead ball impressed in the absence of regular set piece taker Viviane Asseyi. Did a very good job marshalling Kerolin and the threat she posed on the wing.
Eva Nyström– 7/10 – Played a smart match and was able to cover for Anouk Denton when she flew forward in attack, calm in possession when under pressure and savy in winning free-kicks in defensive positions. Lost posession to Roord at one stage and was lucky not to be punished.
Amber Tysiak – 7/10 – Made a number of brilliant defensive clearences, including two headers out of the box in a row in the first half.
Shelina Zadorsky – 7/10 – Came off early in the second half but had served her purpose in defence, a really positive performance from the Canadian.
Oona Siren – 8/10 – Siren’s partnership with Gorry in the centre of West Ham’s midfield continues to blossom, Siren’s ability to take the ball under pressure and keep possession for her side was vitally important tonight.
Kartina Gorry – 8/10 – The captain led by example tonight, and was often picking up second balls and navigating her team out of trouble from inside their own half. Kept running until the very end.
Anouk Denton – 8/10 – Demonstrated her versatility playing in multiple positions, has been dropped recently in favour of Smith but showed why she should be in the starting team again here.
Seraina Piubel– 7/10 – A constant threat for the home side, lively and ready to pounce when opportunity presented itself.
Shekiera Martinez – 7/10 – Had looked her usual imposing self, causing issues for the City backline and providing a focal point for her side. However she was substituted at half time.
Riko Ueki – 7/10 – Another tireless runner the forward always made herself available for a pass in attacking areas.
Substitutes:
Manuela Paví – 8/10 – A live wire for the home side, the Colombian has a swagger about her play that few others posses.
Princess Ademiluyi– 6/10 – The youngster did well to hold up the ball when called upon but ultimately was not able to do the job Martinez performed so effectively in the first half.
Camila Sáez – 6/10 – Came on and did what was expected of her, the Chile international defended well.
Dagný Brynjarsdóttir – N/A – Was not on the pitch for long enough for to make a fair assessment.
Manchester City Player Ratings
Ayaka Yamashita – 8/10 – Made a magnificent save from Piubel in the first half to keep the scorers level. A second save from compatriot Ueki with the final kick of the half was just as important.
Kerstin Casparij – 5/10 – Had one of her weaker performances for City but this was another match in an extremely busy week or so. Was withdrawn at half time.
Laia Alexandri – 7/10 – In a new and makeshift backline Alexandri did her level best to keep things organised, a challenging task but her ability and experience was vital.
Gracie Prior– 6/10 – Prior did well to manage a flurry of corners at the start of the match for a side with one of the best set-piece records in the division. Misplaced a few passes throughout as she struggled with the West Ham press.
Laura Weinroither – 6/10 – Lucky not to be punished in the first half after misjudging a pass from Yamashita and Piubel picked her pocket on the edge of the box. Has not played a lot of football since the move and was understandably rusty. Warmed up into the match as the game wore on. Unlucky not to take the lead for her side rattling the crossbar.
Yui Hasegawa – 7/10 – The diminutive Japanese midfielder’s close control and vision are paralleled by few in the league and she showed it tonight but her opposing midfielders did well to halt her influence.
Jess Park – 6/10 – Struggled to make an impact on proceedings and get involved in the match and ensure the ball stayed in West Ham’s end.
Jill Roord – 7/10 – She was not able to ensure that her side took home all three points, was involved in a ding dong battle with the West Ham midfield.
Lily Murphy – 7/10 – Struggled to get into the game and was suffocated by Zadorsky and Denton tracking back at times, however her confidence grew as the half wore on and came closest to breaking the deadlock for City in the opening 45 minutes.
Kerolin Nicoli – 6/10 – The only member of the front four to survive from the uninspiring victory at the weekend, Kerolin was far better on Wednesday night.
Mary Fowler– 6/10 – The Australian was not on the form that we have become used to from her this season, West Ham made it difficult for her.
Substitutes:
Leia Ouahabi– 6/10 – Struggled early in the second half but grew into the game, was unable to prevent the draw.
Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw – 8/10 –Immediately changed the game when introduced, she was the focal point in attack that City had been missing. An audacious bicycle kick attempt only rubber stamped her star power. The night was a story of two forwards, the introduction of Shaw and the withdrawal of Martinez changed the game. West Ham lost their focal point in attack while Manchester City gained theirs, her impressive cameo demonstrates yet again why she is the best striker in the country right now. Could not have done much more.
Vivianne Miedema– 7/10 – Came off the bench to set up what appeared to be the winner, but what she could in the time she was on the pitch.
Laura Coombs– N/A – Was not on the pitch for long enough for to make a fair assessment.
The Halfway Line Player of the Match: Anouk Denton
The young Lioness continues to impress when she plays in the WSL this season, she is confident on the ball and tracked back well after pushing forward from right midfield before moving back to right back in the second half. Her physicality has come on a lot and she was able to compete tonight where previously she may have struggled. Denton has a bright future and that point was only underlined tonight.
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