1. Shekiera’s first goal!
It’s been a rollercoaster week for Shekiera Martinez. Following her West Ham debut against Chelsea, she started her first Hammers match last Wednesday and helped Rehanne Skinner’s side defeat Tottenham Hotspur to progress to the semi-finals of the Subway® Women’s League Cup.
Rewarded for her impressive introduction to the starting XI, the Germany U23 international started her first Barclays Women’s Super League match on Sunday - and what a performance she produced.
The game was only nine minutes old when she netted her first goal in Claret and Blue, turning home Viviane Asseyi’s corner with a sensational near-post header.
The forward continued to link up well with Asseyi, Riko Ueki and Seraina Piubel, registering three shots on target during her 67 minutes as part of the attacking quartet. She departed for Manuela Paví midway through the second period, and was met with a deserved standing ovation by the Hammers supporters.
2. A clean sheet on Verena’s debut
Verena Hanshaw only joined West Ham on Tuesday, but her confident display against the Toffees gave the impression that she has been playing in Claret and Blue for years.
Lining up alongside Amber Tysiak, Camila Sáez and Anouk Denton, Hanshaw slotted in seamlessly to the defensive line, and helped the Hammers claim their first WSL clean sheet since early February. Limiting Everton to no shots on target, a standout moment came midway through the first half when, with the score at 1-0, Hanshaw made a terrific block to deny Katja Snoeijs from close range.
“I was very thankful for the chance to start from the beginning,” said Hanshaw, speaking in her post-match interview alongside Martinez. “I really enjoyed it. The weather was tough to play in, but I thought it was a great game from us.
“I enjoyed it [her first WSL match] a lot. I liked the speed of the game, the toughness, the physicality and the strength. It was hard, but I enjoyed it.”
3. Vivi back amongst the goals
When the clock ticked towards half-time, the women’s team were awarded the chance to double their lead from the spot when Sara Holmgaard failed to win the ball when challenging Piubel.
Oozing confidence from the moment she claimed the ball to when she stepped up to take the penalty, Asseyi made no mistake in slotting home her spot-kick, sending Courtney Brosnan the wrong way.
The goal was the France international’s eighth in all competitions this term, her fourth in the WSL, and it followed a delightful assist for Martinez’s opener.
4. Amber’s perfect birthday present!
During a break in play in the first half at Chigwell Construction Stadium, the West Ham fans serenaded Tysiak with ‘Happy Birthday to You’ as she celebrated turning 25.
And Tysiak, who recently penned a contract extension with the Club until the summer of 2028, could not have wished for a better birthday present than three points and a clean sheet against Everton.
Speaking post-match, Tysiak said: “It's been a while [since our last league clean sheet], and it's a good feeling. The clean sheet comes from the whole team, and we all worked so hard for each other and were just so solid defensively.”
5. Bouncing back at home in style
A week is a long time in football, and what a difference it makes. Seven days before the clash against Everton, the women’s team were beaten 5-0 by visiting Chelsea. But come the full-time whistle on Sunday, Skinner’s side were celebrating their second victory in five days.
While Wednesday’s win helped the Hammers progress to the semi-finals of a cup competition, it was important for them to pick up their first three points of the calendar year in the WSL, against Everton.
The victory also means that ten of West Ham’s eleven league points have come at home this season, and long may that terrific form in east London continue!
