West Ham United women's team 6-1 Portsmouth
Women's League Cup Group C, Chigwell Construction Stadium, Wednesday 2 October 2024, 7pm BST
West Ham United women’s team secured a convincing victory in their opening match of the Women’s League Cup, beating Portsmouth 6-1 at Chigwell Construction Stadium.
Seraina Piubel put the Hammers ahead inside the opening 13 minutes, but Megan Hornby converted from the penalty spot to bring the Barclays Championship side level.
Emma Harries would score her first of two goals just before the break, before Viviane Asseyi came off the bench and scored two goals in quick succession to give Rehanne Skinner’s side a massive lead just after half-time.
Harries added another on 51 minutes to make it five, before substitute Riko Ueki capped off a big win in Dagenham with a stoppage-time header.
Skinner made nine changes for the cup tie, handing debuts to Marnie Morrison, Oona Siren and Ruby Doe for the clash against the side from the South Coast.
After a quiet opening ten minutes, Manuela Paví injected some life into proceedings, jinking away from Pompey defenders in the box and firing narrowly wide of the right-hand post in the Hammers’ first real attack of the contest.
The home side looked to gain control on proceedings and went ahead on 13 minutes through Switzerland attacker Piubel. The No77 did well to create space for herself in the box and fired beyond Eve Annets in the Portsmouth goal to open her account for the Club.
Things were all going the home side’s way until Megan Hornby was tripped inside the penalty area by Doe and referee Kirsty Dowle pointed to the spot. Hornby picked herself up and sent Megan Walsh the wrong way to level things up on 25 minutes.
The Hammers lost Doe to injury ten minutes later, and she was replaced by Harries. Moments later, Shelina Zadorsky ventured forward from left-wing back to strike at goal, but her powerful effort landed narrowly wide of the right-hand post.
Harries put the Hammers back in front just before the break. After picking up the ball from Halle Houssein, Harries ran into the box and chipped the ball over Annets to put the home side back in front.
In the second half, France striker Asseyi came off the bench and scored two quickfire goals to give the Hammers a large advantage, before Harries added her second of the contest moments later, giving Skinner’s side a commanding lead.
After a frantic start to the second period, the game took on a slower pace, with the Irons content to keep the ball and be patient when as they searched for more opportunities.
Ueki scored her first goal of the season against Liverpool on Sunday, and added a sixth in the closing stages, heading in from a corner to round off a big victory for the women's team, who make a perfect start to their Women's League Cup campaign.
West Ham United: M.Walsh, Cooke, Morrison, Sáez (Ueki 72), Zadorsky © (Mengwen 61), Houssein, Siren, Bergman Lundin, Paví (Asseyi 46), Piubel (Way 72), Doe (Harries 35)
Subs not used: Szemik (GK), Tysiak, Gorry
Goals: Piubel 13, Harries 43, 51, Asseyi 46, 48, Ueki 90+3
Booked: Houssein
Portsmouth: Annets, McEwen, Coan, Freeland (Rowbotham 84), McLaughlin, Rolf (Hutchings 75), Dent, Pitman (Quirk 63), Collins (Quirk 63), Casley ©, Hornby (Jones 75)
Subs not used: Haughton (GK), Barrett, Barker
Goal: Hornby 25 (pen)
Booked: Coan
Referee: Kirsty Dowie
