Manchester United 5-0 West Ham United women’s team
Barclays Women’s Super League, Leigh Sports Village, Sunday 12 November 2023, 12pm GMT.
West Ham United women’s team fell to a 5-0 defeat to Manchester United in the Barclays Women’s Super League on Sunday afternoon.
After only three minutes, the home side opened the scoring through Geyse, who headed in beyond Mackenzie Arnold from close range.
Millie Turner added a second with a curling effort on 42 minutes, before Nikita Parris made it three in first half stoppage time, converting from close range.
It was a much improved performance from the Hammers in the second half, but United substitute Lucía García would add a fourth, and her fellow substitute, Melvine Malard would add the fifth and final goal of the afternoon as the Irons failed to clear their lines.
Rehanne Skinner made two changes to the side from last weekend’s defeat to Bristol City, with Amber Tysiak coming in to make her first league start of the season, alongside Abbey-Leigh Stringer, with the duo replacing Shannon Cooke and Izzy Atkinson, who dropped to the bench.
After an impeccably observed moment of silence to mark remembrance Sunday and remember those that have lost their lives in conflict, the game began.
With the contest only three minutes old, the home side took the lead. A deflected strike from Hinata Miyazawa found its way into the path and onto the head of Geyse, who beat Arnold to the ball and found the net.
The Hammers first chance of the game came from a corner. Lisa Evans found Tysiak with the delivery, but the Belgian defender couldn’t angle her header on target.
Honoka Hayashi’s afternoon was short-lived, with the Japanese midfielder being withdrawn after 20 minutes, having taken a knock to her ankle earlier in the half. Her compatriot, Riko Ueki almost got her side back into the game, dancing past three defender before forcing Mary Earps into a save down low at her near post.
Just after the 30-minute mark, Viviane Asseyi then accidentally collided with Katie Zelem, resulting in the France forward having to come off. Emma Harries replaced her.
Marc Skinner’s side doubled their lead just over ten minutes later, with Turner, up from central defence being allowed time to turn and curl an effort over Arnold to make it 2-0.
Up the other end, the Irons responded almost immediately. A surging run from Anouk Denton resulted in the wing-back firing a ball across the face that Harries connected with, but couldn’t hit the target.
Due to the stoppages for injuries to Hayashi and Asseyi, 12 minutes of additional time were added on at the end of the first half, and United added a third during that time. Nikita Parris converted from close range to compound a disappointing first half display for West Ham.
In the second half, Kirsty Smith almost reduced the deficit against her former Club, but her fizzed shot, which was created after some good pressing from the away side, slid narrowly wide of the far post.
Another chance followed moments later as Rehanne Skinner’s team continued with their improved start to the second half. A dangerous free-kick from Evans caused a scramble inside the area as Ueki and Tysiak both tried to stab the ball home, Turner was eventually able to clear, despite claims that the ball hit the defenders hand.
Just after the hour mark, a dangerous free-kick from Evans forced Earps into action, as she punched her delivery away from danger. Then, Ueki forced the England No1 into a fine save at her near post as she once against slalomed around a number of Reds defenders and got a shot away.
It was a much better performance from those in white, but the home side were able to add to their lead late on, with García cutting in behind the defence and slotting home. And there was still time for her fellow substitute Malard to get on the scoresheet, as she made the most of the Hammers failing to clear to conclude the game.
Manchester United: Earps, Le Tissier, Blundell, Toone, Zelem ©, Galton (García 78), Riviere, Miyazawa (Naalsund 61), Turner (Evans 78), Parris (Malard 61), Geyse (Williams 61).
Unused Subs: Tullis-Joyce, Middleton-Patel, Ladd.
Goals: Geyse 3, Turner 42, Parris 45+1, García 88, Malard 90
West Ham United: Arnold ©, Shimizu, Tysiak, Cissoko (Cooke 86), Smith, Denton, Hayashi (Filis 20), Stringer, Evans (Atkinson 86), Ueki, Asseyi (Harries 34).
Unused Subs: Walsh, Ziu, Stapleton, Ademiluyi, Flannery.
Booked: Stringer 22, Denton 59
Attendance: 4396
Referee: Phoebe Cross
