Chelsea 2-0 West Ham United
Barclays Women’s Super League, Kingsmeadow, Saturday 14 October 2023
West Ham United women's team were narrowly beaten 2-0 by Chelsea at Kingsmeadow on Saturday evening.
The Hammers made a promising start to the game in west London, as they created opportunities through Emma Harries and Viviane Asseyi.
However, champions Chelsea took the lead after 37 minutes when Sam Kerr headed a Niamh Charles cross beyond Mackenzie Arnold to give them the advantage at the break.
Lauren James missed a golden chance to make it two just after the hour mark, whilst Rehanne Skinner’s side looked to get back into the game.
In a battling performance, the Irons couldn’t find a goal, and Erin Cuthbert would add a second for the Blues late on to seal the game.
Skinner made one change from the side that beat Brighton & Hove Albion in their previous WSL outing, with Abbey-Leigh Stringer making way for Harries, who scored in the midweek win over Charlton in the Continental Tyres League Cup.
A fast start in west London began with Maren Mjelde delivering a dangerous corner kicked that was cleared away by the Hammers, as they broke away. Anouk Denton surged forward and tried to supply Viviane Asseyi, but she was met with a strong challenge from Jess Carter.
On eight minutes, some lovely interplay between Riko Ueki and Denton resulted in a fantastic ball being whipped across the face of goal looking for Harries, but she couldn’t apply the vital touch.
Moments later, Harries had another opportunity, but her shot from distance flew over the crossbar. A positive start from the away side in the opening exchanges.
However, Chelsea bit back as Millie Bright played a ball forward for James to attack the West Ham defence. Her cross looked for Kerr at the back post, but the Matildas captain couldn’t apply the vital touch.
Kerr had the ball in the back of the net on 13 minutes after Cissoko had played a loose ball into midfield. Melanie Leupolz found Sophie Ingle, who turned and fired a shot that hit a player in Blue, with the rebound falling to Kerr – however the flag was up and the goal was ruled out.
The game had an end-to-end feel in the first 15 minutes, this time with Lisa Evans scampering forward and testing Chelsea goalkeeper Zecira Musovic.
The game entered a lull, with Chelsea probing the West Ham defence, but failing to find that cutting pass to create opportunities. However, on 31 minutes, a moment of brilliance from Kerr almost opened the scoring. Her diving header landed narrowly wide of the post.
And Kerr would be the scorer of the opener. The Hammers looked to play out, but gave the ball away in a dangerous position. Chelsea moved through the defence, with Niamh Charles pulling a cross back for the Australian forward to head beyond her compatriot Arnold.
Skinner’s side looked to respond immediately, with Evans crossing a ball onto Asseyi’s head, but the France international couldn’t direct her header on target.
The home side were on top heading into the break as the Irons, and they had Arnold to thank for keeping the score at 1-0. Chelsea threaded a ball in behind for James, but the Hammers captain got down well to deny her effort.
In the second half, the Hammers had the first chance after the restart. The ball was rolled into Ueki as she rolled her defender and got a shot away, with it taking a deflection as it trickled behind.
Kirsty Smith then fired a strike towards goal from the resulting corner, and the Scotland international had another chance from the follow-up, with her flick forcing Musovic to tip over the bar.
Pressure from Skinner side continued in the early stages as Harries managed to pick out Hayashi inside the area, with the No19 spinning and getting a shot away that was blocked.
Just past the hour mark, England international James was rolled in behind and look destined to make it two for the Blues, but pressure from Hawa Cissoko looked to have put her off, as she fired an effort wide of the right-hand post.
Pressure intensified from the champions as a corner was cleared away to Chelsea substitute Sjoeke Nusken, but her left-footed strike flew wide of the mark.
Emma Hayes' team continued to dominate the ball as the clocked ticked down, and Cuthbert netted a second late on to secure the victory for the champions.
Chelsea: Musovic, Bright ©, Ingle (Cuthbert 56), Lawrence, Mjelde, Leupolz, Kirby (Nusken 56), Charles, Carter, James (Fleming 78), Kerr (Beever-Jones 78).
Unused Subs: Berger, Perisset, Kaneryd, Buchanan, Cankovic.
Yellow Card: Leupolz 17
Goals: Kerr 37, Cuthbert 89
West Ham United: Arnold ©, Smith, Cooke, Cissoko (Tysiak 88), Denton, Evans, Stringer, Hayashi, Asseyi, Harries (Atkinson 65), Ueki.
Unused Subs: Walsh, Stringer, Filis, Ademiluyi, Flannery.
Yellow Card: Cissoko 34
Referee: Stacey Pearson
Next up, the women's team welcome Matt Beard's Liverpool to Chigwell Construction Stadium! Purchase your tickets by clicking on the graphic below!
