The ladies ready ahead of their Players Cup clash (Image: Denise Collins)
West Ham won their first Players Cup game, whilst this was Southampton’s first game in the competition. They find themselves unbeaten in the WSL 2, with three draws and a win, whilst the Irons have one win and three losses in the WSL.
The midweek action commenced with a West Ham kick off, however it was Southampton who took the lead against the odds, just a minute and a half in. Ellie Brazil was played in behind by Emma Harries and delicately lobbed the ball over West Ham number one, Constance Picaud-Inconnu to give her side the lead.
After this came a flurry of West Ham chances. Southampton had to soak up a lot of pressure but defended very diligently. Kelly Gago squandered a huge chance, putting her shot just wide in the eleventh minute after being one on one with the keeper. Then eight minutes later, another big opportunity came her way that was saved by Alina Santos. A lot of West Ham’s attacks were coming through Leila Wandeller, who was very lively on the wing, but it was Ylinn Tennebø who was next to come close twenty seven minutes in. Two minutes later, Brazil found herself in again against the run of play, but this time her shot was well saved. Wandeller came close twice in quick succession moments later, but it was five minutes later where we saw the talking point of the half. Seraina Piubel raced on to a ball through, nicked it ahead of Santos in goal, who completely wiped her out. Both players stayed down in a lengthy stoppage, but a few minutes later were up on their feet. Santos subsequently saw red, leaving the Saints down to ten players and keeping the lead an even tougher job. Emma Harries was sacrificed on her return to the starting lineup after over a year out and was replaced by substitute goalkeeper, Grace Moloney. The free kick to follow was agonisingly close, with Inès Belloumou striking the bar. Five minutes were added on and despite the Hammers pressing hard, Southampton took a slender lead into the break.
Kelly Gago gets into the box for another opportunity at goal (Image: Denise Collins)
West Ham flew out the blocks as the second half begun, looking to get back in the game sooner rather than later. Just seven minutes into the half, Oona Siren drove into the box and drew a foul, leading referee, Aimee Keir, to award a penalty. Gago stepped up to take it and hoped to finally get her goal, but it was well saved down to Moloney’s right. A corner followed, and after a big scramble in the box, centre midfielder, Oona Siren, found the bottom corner in the fifty fourth minute. The home crowd erupted and you could sense that there were more goals to come. Star player and club captain, Katie Zelem, was then brought on, causing the animated crowd to get even more excited. Barely minutes after this substitution, an inch perfect cross from Belloumou was headed home by Wandeller. The irons just continued to grow and were all of a sudden playing with a confidence and flair that was missing in the first half. The onslaught continued, as Siren bagged her second goal of the game, again from a corner that ended up pinging around the box until she squeezed it over the line. West Ham’s Finnish international was having quite the game, not just with her two goals, but her all round performance. She was constantly demanding the ball and finding all the right passes, the real heartbeat of the team. Chances continued to come West Ham’s way, and they could’ve had three or four more on another day. Despite this, the game ended 3-1 and the Hammers strong start to the Players Cup continued.
Leila Wandeler shining on the wing for the Hammers (Image: Denise Collins)
After the game, West Ham manager, Rita Guarino was delighted with the win, saying she was “very happy for the result, but more for the debut of the young players”. Despite being 1-0 down at half time, she was never worried about her side being able to come back, saying “in the first half we had 5, 6 clear chances to score”. Having never lost to Southampton, there was undoubtedly pressure on the Hammers, but Guarino said “it is a privilege to have pressure”. She also said “every competition is important” and winning is “something we want to do”.
Manager, Rita Guarino was delighted after her side’s victory (Image: PA)
The gaffer and West Ham now look ahead to Sunday, where they see a return to WSL action against juggernauts, Chelsea. They will be looking to take a positive result today into the weekend and hope to continue where they left off.