West Ham United women’s starting XI for this afternoon’s history-making, first-ever Barclays FA Women’s Super League match at London Stadium has been announced.
Head coach Matt Beard has made two changes from the side that opened last Sunday’s FA Women’s Continental League Cup match away to Chelsea, with goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan and left-back Katharina Baunach returning to the line-up.
Brosnan, who kept her first clean-sheet of the season in her last outing, at home to Birmingham City, received her maiden call-up to the Republic of Ireland national team this week. She heads into next week’s international break with a starting place at London Stadium.
At right-back, Cecilie Redisch Kvamme makes her first Barclays FA WSL start since joining the Hammers in the summer. The Norwegian international has previously made two substitute outings in the league and opened last weekend’s match at Chelsea.
Captain Gilly Flaherty maintains her record of only missing one competitive match since joining West Ham United and will lead the Irons out for today’s inaugural London Stadium fixture. The No5 is partnered by German international Laura Vetterlein, making her fourth start of the season in all competitions. Baunach returns to play on the left of defence.
A trio of Hammers will start in midfield in Tessel Middag, Cho So-hyun and Kate Longhurst. Middag, having missed all of last season due to injury, starts her third match of the season, while Korea Republic captain Cho opens her fourth game.
Lifelong West Ham fan Longhurst joins the pair and, having scored West Ham’s first-ever goals in the Women’s Super League last year, will be looking to make history again this afternoon.
Canadian international Adriana Leon opens on the right-wing. The No19 scored her first of the season, and the only goal of the game, when West Ham secured three points against Birmingham City in the last league match. Summer signing Martha Thomas is up front, after scoring on the opening day of the season away to Arsenal.
Alisha Lehmann, fresh off of her first start of the season last weekend following an absence due to injury, completes the starting XI. The Swiss international will be looking to get off the mark in the 2019/20 campaign after scoring nine goals and assisting eight last season, an amount which saw her nominated for the PFA Women’s Young Player of the Year award.
Head coach Beard has an array of talent available among his substitutes. Goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse, versatile full-back Erin Simon and centre-back Brooke Hendrix are available to assist in the back-line, while Kenza Dali returns to the squad after missing out last week. The French international has impressed since moving to West Ham in the summer.
Republic of Ireland international and Australian youngster Jacynta Galabadaarachchi complete the matchday squad for West Ham United women’s team this afternoon.
West Ham United: Brosnan; Redisch Kvamme, Flaherty (c), Vetterlein, Baunach; Middag, Cho, Longhurst; Lehmann, Thomas, Leon
Subs: Moorhouse, Simon, Hendrix, Dali, Galabadaarachchi, Kiernan