Arsenal 3-1 West Ham United
Barclays Women’s Super League, Meadow Park, Sunday 30 October 2022.
West Ham United Women produced a battling performance, but were ultimately beaten 3-1 by Arsenal on Sunday evening.
The Hammers worked their socks off throughout the game at Meadow Park and took the lead when they forced the Arsenal backline into a mistake, and Dagny Brynjarsdottir was able to take advantage, stabbing the ball home after a backpass struck the post.
Jordan Nobbs would equalise seven minutes later to make it all square at the break, and then Sweden forward, Stina Blackstenius would head Jonas Eidevall’s team ahead.
Frida Maanum would add to their lead on 70 minutes, as she ghosted into the penalty area and headed post Sophie Hillyerd.
The game would end 3-1 to the Gunners, but there was plenty of positive for Paul Konchesky and his players to take from the contest.
Konchesky made two changes for the visit to Hertfordshire, with Sophie Hillyerd coming in to make her first professional start of her career. Abbey-Leigh Stringer also came into the side, replacing Mel Filis in midfield.
The Hammers started strongly, and in trademark fashion. Kirsty Smith delivered a brilliant corner kick that was met by the head of the Skipper, Brynjarsdottir – Manuela Zinsberger was able to keep out her header.
Konchesky’s side looked to press the Gunners high, and Thea Kyvāg almost latched onto a short backpass, but Zinsberger was alive to the danger and scrambled to clear the ball away.
The first ten minutes were evenly matched between the two teams, and whilst the Irons weren’t able to land a blow on the Arsenal goal, they were certainly competing with the side that started the weekend at the top of the WSL table.
The home side had their first real opening with 14 minuets on the clock, with Blackstenius’ shot well charged down by Abbey-Leigh Stringer.
Whilst the shot from the Sweden forward was the first real scare that the Irons had faced in the match, the continued to look to make things happen in their final third. Lisa Evans received the ball on the edge of the area, but she couldn’t steer her shot on target.
Konchesky’s team were doing a good job of limited the opportunities that Arsenal were creating – with Katie McCabe being closed down by former teammate Evans when she pulled the trigger on her strike from an acute angle. The subsequent effort didn’t trouble Hillyerd in goal.
Brynjarsdottir was proving, once again to be a real threat in the air, and the Irons thought that they’d taken the lead when the Iceland international headed home from Smith’s corner kick. However, the referee had other ideas and blew up for a foul as the ball was being swung into the box.
The Hammers took the lead with 35 minutes gone at Meadow Park. Brynjarsdottir notched her fifth goal in as many matches as she capitalised on a mistake at the back from Arsenal to give Konchesky’s side the lead.
The lead didn’t last long, though, as Nobbs, fresh off the bench for the Gunners after captain, Kim Little had to be replaced, fired in an emphatic equaliser from the edge of the area. The strike from Nobbs would prove to be the last of the action from the first half.
Arsenal looked to strike quickly once the second half got underway, and they managed to put themselves ahead when Blackstenius headed in from a whipped in free-kick on 53 minutes.
Despite being behind, the Hammers were brave with their play, venturing forward with every opportunity. Smith continued to cause the Arsenal backline issues with her dangerous deliveries, and she almost found Asseyi with a powerful cross towards the front post, but the French forward couldn’t get in front of her marker.
The Gunners extended their lead to three when Maanum arrived late into the Hammers penalty area and powered a header beyond Hillyerd.
Konchesky’s side battled until the very end, and Brynjarsdottir almost had her second, but her effort was well saved by Zinsberger.
The match would end in defeat for the Hammers, but the team can be very proud of their performance against the side that are top of the division.
West Ham United: Hillyerd, Shimizu, Longhurst, Fisk, Smith, Hayashi, Stringer (Filis 81), Brynjarsdottir, Evans (Atkinson 88), Kyvåg (Walker 71), Asseyi.
Subs: Houssein, Flannery.
Goal: Brynjarsdottir 35
Bookings: Longhurst 53, Kyvag 57, Filis 84
Arsenal: Zinsberger, Maritz (Wienroither 71), Wubben-Moy, Catley, McCabe, Walti, Little © (Nobbs 39), Maanum, Mead, Blackstenius (Hurtig 71), Foord (Miedema 71).
Subs: Marckese, Beattie, Reid, Iwabuchi, Agyemang.
Goals: Nobbs 42, Blackstenius 53, Maanum 70
Attendance: 3,988
West Ham United Women are back at Chigwell Construction Stadium on Sunday 6 November when they face Brighton & Hove Albion in the Barclays Women’s Super League.
Tickets for the clash against the Seagulls are available to purchase now by clicking on the graphic below!
