Riko Ueki was delighted to be on the scoresheet on Sunday afternoon.
The 24-year-old forward broke the deadlock in West Ham United women’s team’s 1-1 draw with Leicester City in their final home match of the 2023/24 campaign, slotting the ball into the bottom corner after being played in by Honoka Hayashi.
Sophie Howard would head in before half-time to level the game against the run of play after a strong and fast start from the Irons. However, in the second half, the away side threatened on many occasions, with Mackenzie Arnold having to be alert to deny the Foxes.
Before kick-off at Chigwell Construction Stadium, Ueki was presented with the 2023/24 Women’s Young Hammer of the Year award, with the Japanese international being voted as the winner by thousands of supporters.
Speaking to whufc.com at the full-time whistle, she explained how proud she was to receive the award in her first season in England.
“I’m so happy to have won this award,” Ueki beamed. “I’m thankful to the fans for voting for me and for welcoming me here to West Ham and to England.
“Everyone here at West Ham has helped me this season, so I’m pleased to help the team by scoring today.
“It was a very tough match. In the first half, we were very good, quick in the transitions and defensively we were really solid. In the second half, we looked a little tired, but we didn’t lose and we were able to create chances on the counter-attack at the end.
“We know that we have to score more goals during periods where we are dominating games, and we needed to do that today."
There were five Japanese internationals on the pitch at Chigwell Construction Stadium, with Ueki, Hayashi and Risa Shimizu lining up for the Hammers, while Leicester had Saori Takarada and Yuka Momiki in midfield.
Ueki has been pleased to see the large number of Japanese players heading over to England, and she hopes it is a trend that will continue going forward.
She said: “I think it’s really good for Japan and the WSL. I think people have realised now that Japanese players are strong and technical. Everyone here in England is so friendly and helpful with us too.
“Hopefully more Japanese players will come to England, because the WSL is such a great league."
West Ham have to wait just under two weeks to conclude their Barclays Women’s Super League campaign, when they will travel to north London to face Tottenham Hotspur.
Ueki insists it will be another tough match, and she hopes the team will be able to finish the season strongly, and head into the off-season on a high.
She added: “We’re all really excited to play Tottenham on the final day of the season.
"We want to finish the season happy, and we can do that by getting three points."
