Liverpool 0-1 West Ham United
Continental Tyres FA Women's League Cup quarter-final, Prenton Park, Wednesday 25 January 2023, 7.45pm GMT
West Ham United Women advanced into the semi-finals of the Conti Cup on Wednesday evening after Dagný Brynjarsdóttir headed in the only goal of the game.
A wonderful cross from Viviane Asseyi was nodded home late on by the Hammers' captain, which was enough to see them reach the last four in a tightly contested game.
Paul Konchesky made two changes from the side that lost 3-0 to Everton on Merseyside in the Barclays Premier League three days previously, with Emma Snerle making her first start since April 2022. Mel Filis also came into the team, with Kate Longhurst and Lisa Evans the two that made way.
The opening chance of the game fell to Denmark international Snerle, who found space inside the box after Kirsty Smith had delivered a corner into her path, but she couldn’t get a shot away. In the second phase, she had the chance to head to ball towards goal, but was again crowded out by the Reds defence.
Lovely build-up play from Abbey-Leigh Stringer and Mel Filis created the first chance, with Asseyi attempting to chip Faye Kirby, but the Liverpool goalkeeper made herself big and made the save.
She was called upon again moments later to deny Asseyi. This time, the France forward acrobatically steered a Filis cross on goal, but Kirby was able to beat the ball away.
Konchesky’s team settled into a rhythm, passing the ball with confidence and looking to create opportunities
But that was disrupted by a stray ball from Stringer that could not quite find the feet of Cissoko. Missy Bo Kearns took the chance from range but the midfielder's blushes were spared as it landed wide.
Kearns nearly created the assist for Katie Stengel on 32 minutes, but the ball flashed beyond the American forward and behind.
Just before half-time, a wonderful move started by Snerle also ended up in the back of the net. Her curling ball out to Risa Shimizu allowed the full-back to knock it into space, before playing it across to Hayashi, but a little touch from Hinds put her off at the vital moment, and the effort span wide.
The first half would end goalless, but there were positive signs for the Irons as they looked to open the scoring.
The home side would create the first opportunity of the second half. A bursting run from Kearns would draw Cissoko out of position, leaving Stengel with an opportunity to strike at Arnold’s goal. The Australia international got down well to keep the striker’s effort out.
Ceri Holland was next to have a go for the Reds, but her long-range strike did not trouble Arnold, although the Reds had certainly made a better start to the second half than their opponents.
Stengel was growing into the game for the visitors, as was Kearns. The pair combined on 65 minutes when the American made a run into the channel before sending in a teasing cross into the area, but Kearns couldn’t steer it home.
The forward had the ball in the back of the net moments later, seizing on a mistake at the back from Cissoko but fortunately for the Hammers, the header was ruled out for offside.
Konchesky’s side had been second best throughout the second half in terms of chances created, but an opportunity presented itself to substitute Longhurst, but Kirby was able to get down low to deny the midfielder.
Lucy Parker entered the field, which meant a change of system, with the boss reverting to a back five. This allowed the defender to drive forward, and almost delivered the perfect ball for Asseyi, but she could not steer her flick on target.
Just as it looked as though the game was heading into extra-time, Asseyi delivered a wonderful ball into the area from the left for Brynjarsdóttir to head beyond Kirby and seal her side's place in the semi-finals.
Liverpool: Kirby, Koivisto, Fahey ©, Bonner (Matthews 90+1), Hinds, Holland (Lundgaard 66), Kearns, Nagano (Furness 90+1), Daniels, Lawley (Campbell 66), Stengel
Subs not used: Laws (GK), Cumings (GK), Robe, Humphrey, Taylor
Booked: Daniels 71, Campbell 90+6
West Ham United: Arnold, Smith, Cissoko, Fisk, Shimizu, Stringer (Longhurst 61), Hayashi, Brynjarsdottir ©, Filis (Evans 61), Snerle (Parker 74), Asseyi
Subs not used: Hillyerd (GK), Atkinson, Cairns, Houssein, Flannery
Goal: Brynjarsdottir 87
Booked: Hayashi 75
Referee: Martin Woods
