West Ham United women’s team 2-1 Arsenal
Barclays Women’s Super League, Chigwell Construction Stadium, Sunday 4 February 2024, 12.30pm
West Ham United women’s team secured an historic first Barclays Women's Super League victory over Arsenal on Sunday, beating the Gunners 2-1 at Chigwell Construction Stadium.
Alessia Russo opened the scoring for the visitors just before half time, but the Irons turned things around in the second half when Viviane Asseyi slotted in from the spot and Hawa Cissoko emphatically finished to spark huge celebrations.
Arsenal started brightest in front of a packed-out crowd in Dagenham, but solid defending from Cissoko stopped Caitlin Foord from pulling the trigger and testing Mackenzie Arnold early on.
The French defender and her teammates then combined to block a trio of shots before goalkeeper Arnold was called into action to tip over a deflection.
The away side continued to dominate, forcing Rehanne Skinner’s team further back. A cross from the right found the head of England international Russo, but the forward could not steer hereffort on target.
An interception from Cissoko allowed the defender to charge forward and release Asseyi with ten minutes remaining in the first half. The forward took the ball well but could not direct her strike on target.
The deadlock was broken just before the interval. A ball from the left flew across the box with pace, finding the head of Russo, who made no mistake from close range to seemingly put the Gunners on course for another WSL win over the Hammers.
Despite being behind at the interval, there were plenty of positives to build on for the Hammers, rhough.
And Skinner’s side made a brilliant start to the second half, as Riko Ueki was tripped in the penalty area. Asseyi stepped up and confidently slotted in her fifth goal of the season to bring the game level.
That allowed those in Claret and Blue to grow in confidence, as they stepped further into the Arsenal half, putting Jonas Eidevall’s side under pressure.
The Hammers were then in dreamland just after before the hour mark, as Cissoko latched onto a ball on the edge of the area, showing fantastic technique to hit a first-time, left-footed finish beyond a despairing Manuela Zinsburger.
A fantastic display of defending from the Hammers in the closing stages enabled them to see out the victory, pick up an important three points, and secure a second consecutive win in the Barclays WSL.
West Ham go into a mini-break five points above bottom club Bristol City, and with renewed optimism and energy going into the final months of the campaign.
West Ham United: Arnold ©, Smith, Shimizu, Tysiak, Ueki (Ademiluyi 90+3), Zadorsky, Ziu (Snerle 39), Hayashi (Bergman Lundin 84), Asseyi, Gorry, Cissoko (Cooke 84)
Subs not used: Walsh (GK), O’Hanlon, Harries, Mewis, Denton
Goals: Asseyi 50, Cissoko 58
Booked: Smith, Cooke
Arsenal: Zinsburger, Fox, Wubben-Moy, Williamson © (Ilestedt 46), Catley, Mead (Cooney Cross 63), Miedema (Lacasse 63) , Walti, Foord (Maanum 78), Pelova (Blackstenius 63), Russo
Subs not used: D’Angelo, Williams, Little
Goal: Russo 43
Referee: Melissa Burgin
Attendance: 4,172
