West Ham beat London rivals Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 thanks to an own goal from Josefine Rybrink and a goal from Viviane Asseyi. The result means that Rehanne Skinner’s side have now won the most games at home in a season that West Ham ever have in the top flight. The Chigwell Construction Stadium was the stage for a London derby between West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday with both sides sitting side by side in the table.
West Ham United knew that victory in East London would see them leap frog their neighbours in the table as the season approaches its conclusion. Rehanne Skinner made two changes to the side that held Manchester City in the Barclays Women’s Super League a week and a half ago. The goal scorer that day for the Hammers was rewarded with a starting place in the derby, Colombian Manuela Paví was introduced for Seraina Piubel.
West Ham also brought star player Viviane Asseyi back into the line up after she missed the draw with Manchester City through suspension. Eva Nyström dropped to the bench in place of the French striker as West Ham reverted to a back four instead of the five at the back favoured against City.
With Everton’s victory yesterday Spurs were looking to regain seventh place and keep themselves in the hunt for a finish in the top half of the table. Robert Vilahamn made some adjustments for this one in an attempt to stop the rot with his Spurs side winless in the league since January. The Swedish head coach was still without top scorer Beth England through injury and he made three changes to the side that lost to Brighton last week. Luana Bühler, Ashleigh Neville and Matilda Vinberg all dropped out and in their place came Rybrink, Maite Oroz and Charli Grant.
Line ups:
WHU: Szemik, Denton, Tysiak, Zadorsky, Hanshaw, Siren, Gorry, Paví, Martinez, Asseyi, Ueki
TOT: Kop, Morris, Bartrip, Rybrink, Nildén, Spence, Summanen, Oroz, Holdt, Grant, Thomas
The Action:
The match kicked off in transitional fashion with both sides looking bright on the ball in the early exchanges. Within minutes there had already been a few challenges that alone would have identified the match as a derby. As the match hit the 10 minute mark Tottenham were starting to turn up the pressure, a wonderful reverse pass from Olivia Holdt found Ella Morris on the overlap and her cross come shot stung the palms of Kinga Szemik.
Morris tested Szemik again only minutes later, as Grant was found in acres of space in behind the West Ham back-line. She cut back and found Drew Spence, the Jamaican brilliantly juggled the ball into the box, while she was unable to control the ball it fell kindly for Morris who fired the ball directly at Szemik who was able to prevent the opener.
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West Ham were looking to threaten on the counter and Shekiera Martinez was once again demonstrating her immense talent and attacking threat. And it was the home side, against the run of play who took the lead, Asseyi pulled the ball back to Verena Hanshaw whose powerful drive from just inside the box deflected into the net off the outstretch leg of the unfortunate Rybrink.
Tottenham looked to respond and they almost did after Paví, defending the near post swung and missed the ball with her right foot from an Oroz’s corner. The fizzed in delivery was met by the covering Riko Ueki who was able to clear the ball.
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West Ham probably should have doubled their lead after a swift counter began with Hanshaw, who drilled the ball into Asseyi, her faint touch found Martinez who on the turn directed the ball wide from inside the box. West Ham were getting some joy when attacking down the Spurs right side and Asseyi took aim after cutting in from the left just missing the target with an ambitious looping effort just moments later. Holdt was not tracking back and Ella Morris was being left isolated with Hanshaw coming forward to support Asseyi in attack.
Spurs were still demonstrating some danger in attack despite the evident knock to their confidence in conceding the opening goal. Drew Spence came forward with a few minutes to play in the first half but could only drag her long range effort wide of the post. Spurs are always threatening from dead ball situations and with Eveliina Summanen standing over a free kick from jut outside the box they were almost level. The Fin’s strike rattled the crossbar and bounced out right on the stroke of half time.
Spurs made a half time substitution as Oroz was withdrawn and Anna Csiki was introduced. Under five minutes into the second half that sub almost paid dividends as Martha Thomas found Holdt in space who played in the Hungarian whose shot was was stopped by the the outstretched leg of Szemik. The game state was suiting the Hammers and their ambitious press forced their opponents into a number of errors early in the second half.
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West Ham were getting opportunities and Martinez was showing great endeavour and was able to test Kop at her near post. From the resulting corner Katrina Gorry took aim from the edge of the box on the half volley but Kop made a smart save down to her right, pushing the ball wide enough for Martinez to only be able to find the side netting with the follow up.
Just as West Ham had taken the lead against the run of play in the first half, Spurs almost gave them a taste of their own medicine. With 25 minutes to go Tottenham rattled the post again as a cut back in the box found Thomas whose vicious effort rattled the post.
Tottenham continued to push for an equaliser with Jess Naz and Hayley Raso both introduced in an effort to shift momentum but West Ham looked the more likely to double their lead. Eventually West Ham did double their lead and it was Asseyi who scored direct from a free kick. Ueki made a run across the keeper’s eyeline which was just enough to delay Kop’s action as Asseyi’s cross come shot found the net. West Ham confirmed bragging rights on the day with a 2-0 victory.
West Ham United Player Ratings
Kinga Szemik – 7/10 – Made a couple of important stops early on when Spurs were in the ascendency.
Verena Hanshaw – 7/10 – It was the Austrian’s ambitious run and strike that put the home side in the lead however fortuitously. Hanshaw defended well and made a number of difficult interceptions look easy, tired as the match came to a close and misplaced a couple of passes.
Amber Tysiak – 7/10 – Defensively solid, the Belgian is becoming one of the most consistent centre backs in the league.
Shelina Zadorsky – 7/10 – The Canadian had an impressive display at the back for her side, favoured ahead of Nyström she justified her selection.
Anouk Denton – 8/10 – Chose her moments to step up and intercept the ball well and made a number of defensive interceptions to limit Grant’s involvement in the match.
Oona Siren – 9/10 – Often nipped in with some good defensive moments and almost always picked the right pass. Won the ball back in midfield on what felt like countless occasions and was first to the ball time and again.
Kartina Gorry – 8/10 – A magnificent lynchpin in the West Ham midfield, made some crucial tackles and visionary passes. Covered every blade of grass for her team today, a captain’s performance.
Manuela Paví – 7/10 – A livewire but she picked up a foolish and avoidable early yellow card, got back in defence well aside from that. Showed some wonderful skill at times that lit up the Chigwell, swiftly becoming a fan favourite.
Viviane Asseyi – 9/10 – Set up the first goal and was diligent in her defensive duties, her ability to deliver a dangerous corner is a huge asset for her team. Scored a lovely goal direct from a free kick.
Shekiera Martinez – 7/10 – The German is always such a threat on the counter and today was no different. Often popped up in defensive areas and shepherded the ball to safety, showed brilliant defensive awareness of the second ball. At times it felt as though the ball stuck to her foot by sheer force of will.
Riko Ueki – 8/10 – Like any attacker in a Rehanne Skinner team you must be defensively sound and Ueki certainly was. Uses her body so well to draw fouls from the opposition that they would not have wanted to give away. Made a wonderful dummy run for West Ham’s second goal.
Substitutes:
Seraina Piubel (65′ replaced Manuela Paví)
Kirsty Smith (65′ replaced Anouk Denton)
Princess Ademiluyi (84′ replaced Shekiera Martinez)
Dagný Brynjarsdóttir (92′ replaced Oona Siren)
Tottenham Hotspur Player Ratings
Lize Kop – 7/10 – Kop could have done nothing about the opening goal from West Ham. Made a couple of very smart saves in the second half to keep her side in touching distance.
Amanda Nildén – 7/10 – Dealt with the invention of the West Ham defence capably combined well with Grant at times.
Molly Bartrip – 6/10 – Was alert to the danger for much of the match and demonstrated her leadership in the group to keep heads up despite falling behind.
Josefine Rybrink – 6/10 – A difficult day for her and she was extremely unlucky to concede the own goal. Looked frustrated as the afternoon wore on.
Ella Morris – 7/10 – Flew forward at every opportunity and perhaps should have scored early on. Final ball was often over hit and needs to be more consistent but Morris was isolated and West Ham had a lot of success down her side. She defended well when called upon. Demonstrated the most endeavour of any player in Tottenham colours on the day.
Drew Spence – 6/10 – Spence demonstrated some mature early touches, showing the finesse of a player whose has played in a number of London derbies before. However as the match wore on Oona Siren got the better of her all too often getting to 50/50 balls and her influence faded, the match was won and lost in the midfield.
Eveliina Summanen – 7/10 – Her set piece delivery was a danger for West Ham, almost scored what would have been a magnificent free kick but was denied by the frame of the goal. Also made some crucial defensive interventions.
Maite Oroz – 6/10 – A diminutive presence on the pitch for Spurs, looked dangerous when on the ball outside the West Ham box, that just happened all too infrequently. She was substituted at half time.
Olivia Holdt – 6/10 – Showed some wonderful vision and awareness of her surroundings, left a lot to be desired as far as her tracking back was concerned. It was unclear if this was due to managerial instructions or not.
Charli Grant– 6/10 – Came off the worse in her one on one battles with Denton but worked hard to find space in behind. Was taken off in the second half.
Martha Thomas – 6/10 – The Scot is a player lacking in confidence and that is clear to see. She was extremely unlucky not to find the net in the second half after her vicious effort cannoned off the inside of the post and out. Her endeavour cannot be faulted.
Substitutes:
Anna Csiki (46′ replacing Maite Oroz)
Jess Naz (63′ replacing Charli Grant)
Matilda Vinberg (63′ replacing Olivia Holdt)
Hayley Raso (84′ replacing Martha Thomas)
The Halfway Line Player of the Match: Oona Siren
The term unsung hero is thrown around in the modern game but nobody epitomises it more than Siren, who was magnificent today. She was vital for the control of the midfield that West Ham excerted and her partnership in midfield with Gorry seems to improve every game. An impressive display.