Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 West Ham United women’s team
Barclays Women’s Super League, Brisbane Road, Sunday 3 November 2024, 2pm GMT
West Ham United women’s team suffered late heartache as an added-time Camila Sáez own-goal saw them fall to a 2-1 Barclays Women’s Super League defeat at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon.
The Irons 2024/25 WSL campaign looked to be heading in the right direction when Riko Ueki’s towering header put the visitors in front eight minutes before half-time at Brisbane Road.
But Beth England’s close-range finish six minutes after the break wiped out West Ham’s advantage before Sáez’s unfortunate own-goal meant all three points would remain in north London.
Defeat was very harsh on Rehanne Skinner’s side, who deserved more for a performance full of determination, resilience and, at the right times, flair and creativity. To a player, West Ham gave their all, but they were left with nothing to show for their efforts and remain bottom of the WSL table.
Former Tottenham manager Skinner made two changes to her starting XI, bringing in Camila Sáez and Paví for Li Mengwen and Shannon Cooke and reverting to a back four.
After a minute’s silence to mark Remembrance Day and a taking of the knee in opposition to racism and discrimination, the action got underway.
Tottenham’s first and only clear chance of the first half came inside seven minutes, when Beth England played a one-two before firing a left-foot shot narrowly over the angle of near post and crossbar
West Ham then had the edge for much of the opening 45 minutes, forcing a number of corners, the last of which was brilliantly won by Asseyi, playing her 50th WSL game for the Club. The France international then delivered to the edge of the six-yard box and Ueki outjumped Bartrip and England to head in.
Prior to that, Asseyi and Shelina Zadorsky combined, but the Canadian’s cross was just too high for the leaping Pavi, and Oona Siren saw a left-foot shot blocked by Molly Bartrip.
With Amber Tysiak and Sáez defending strongly, Spurs struggled to create anything significant. That said, the hosts had a goal disallowed for offside against Ella Morris, whose first-time cross was finished by England as the flag went up, and Tysiak did well to block a Martha Thomas shot just before the break.
The second half was a much livelier affair, and it took Tottenham less than six minutes to draw level. Szemik made a fine save from Thomas, Matilda Vinberg’s follow-up hit the inside of the post and rebounded to England, who controlled and finished from four yards out.
Two minutes later, Vinberg’s low shot was well held by Szemik, who then saved bravely at the feet of former Hammer Thomas as the hosts upped the pressure.
Tysiak, England and Gorry all had half-chances as the hour-mark came and went, before Ella Morris’s curler was caught by Szemik.
Both Skinner and opposite number Robert Vilahamn made changes in the hope of forcing a winning goal but, when it arrived, it was in the cruellest of circumstances.
For Spurs, Jessica Naz’s long-range strike flew narrowly wide and substitute Luana Bühler headed straight at Szemik. At the other end, Spencer held Dagný Brynjarsdóttir’s downward header, Ueki’s first-time shot looped onto the top of the crossbar with the home goalkeeper scrambling, and finally Anouk Denton sent a rasping shot just past the post.
Then, just when it seemed the game would end even, Sáez was pressured as she ran back to her own goal, lobbed the ball over Szemik and watched as it agonisingly bounced inside the right-hand post.
West Ham will hope for better luck when they host Leicester City on Sunday 10 November at 3pm.
Tottenham Hotspur: Spencer, Morris, Bartrip, Hunt, Neville, Summanen (Bühler 78), Spence (Ahtinen 58), Thomas, England ©, Naz, Vinberg (Gunning-Williams 71)
Subs not used: Heeps (GK), Grant, Csiki, Wang, Dennis
Goal: England 51, Sáez 90+2 (og)
Booked: Neville, Summanen, Hunt
West Ham United: Szemik, Denton, Sáez, Tysiak, Zadorsky, Siren, Gorry ©, Piubel, Paví (Brynjarsdóttir 63), Ueki, Asseyi (Harries 84)
Subs not used: M. Walsh (GK), Mengwen, Cooke, Smith, Bergman Lundin, Houssein, S. Walsh
Goal: Ueki 37
Booked: Ueki, Asseyi
Referee: Melissa Burgin
Skinner: The performance was strong
Rehanne Skinner was full of praise for her players and backed their performance and attitude after seeing them fall to an unfortunate 2-1 Barclays Women’s Super League defeat at Tottenham Hotspur.
The Hammers defended resolutely and took the game to Spurs at the right times at Brisbane Road, taking the lead through Riko Ueki’s superb first-half header.
Even after conceded an equalizer to Beth England early in the second half, the Irons had their fair share of opportunities to win the game, only to be left empty-handed when Camila Sáez put through her own net in the second minute of added-time.
A game that could easily have produced a first WSL win of 2024/25 instead brought a fourth defeat in six matches and leaves manager Skinner having to build morale and confidence ahead of next weekend’s home game with Leicester City.
“Obviously, it’s a really difficult to take at the end there,” Skinner confirmed. “We fought really hard throughout the course of the game and the performance was strong, and in the biggest parts of the game we were the better team. In the first half, in particular, I think half-time came at the wrong time for us as we were on top and we probably could have got another goal out of it in that moment. We were causing them lots of problems and creating issues for them, for sure.
“The way that the game ends is difficult for everybody to take, especially the timing because we’d been creating chances just before that. Emotionally, it’s a hard one and disappointing for everyone involved – players, staff and fans. I think the most important thing to take out of the game are the attitude and work-ethic of the players throughout the game.
“Our attacking play was much more positive. Our penalty box entries and the things we were trying to create were better. Having Manuela Pavíon the pitch for the first time starting the game, having worked on her fitness and the injury she came in with, and Seraina Piubel playing her first full 90 as well. These are players we brought in because we thought they could add value to the team and you saw that today and that’s really positive and something to grow on.”
Zadorsky: It’s just those fine margins that win you games
Shelina Zadorsky rightly had her head held high as she spoke to West Ham TV following Sunday’s 2-1 Barclays Women’s Super League defeat at Tottenham Hotspur.
The former Spurs defender was in good form, as were many of her teammates at Brisbane Road, only for a combination of factors to condemn them to defeat when a draw or even a victory would have been a more fitting reward for their efforts.
But, true to the character of a player who has won over 100 international caps for Canada, the 32-year-old was preaching positives and restated the squad’s desire to get their 2024/25 WSL season moving in the right direction as soon as next weekend’s home game with Leicester City.
“It was a cruel way to lose,” she began. “To work that hard across almost 100 minutes, players and staff, and not get the three points is definitely frustrating, but it was a really good performance and that’s why it hurts more.
“I think there were spells where we possessed the ball really well, scored a great goal and moved through the pitch with quality and I’m really proud of everyone for that. It’s just those fine margins that win you games and we need to keep moving forward to be able to do that.
“I think the momentum in the first half was really good. We were patient, we exploited wide areas and got the ball in dangerous places on the pitch and people were really positive going forwards, but it’s just doing it for 90 minutes. There was definitely some brilliant performances today.
“I could play another game right now. I don’t know if my legs could do it, but we’re really hungry to get points and we have to keep that going. We need to take the positives from this game, learn from the things we need to learn from, but we want points for this Club and we need to keep moving forward for that.”
