Girls on the Ball

West Ham United and Manchester City shared the points when they drew 1-1 in the Women’s Super League on Wednesday evening.

Bunny Shaw gave the Citizens the lead ten minutes from the end of the match before Manuela Pavi scored a stoppage time equaliser for the Hammers.

At the Chigwell Construction Stadium, the visitors had the first opportunities of the match with Kerolin’s cross being too high for Lily Murphy before the Brazilian had the first shot at goal but this was easily claimed by Kinga Szemik.

At the other end, Riko Ueki couldn’t get her head on a cross.  Ayaka Yamashita got down well to stop a low cross from Shekiera Martinez before Katrina Gorry saw a shot deflected over by Gracie Prior.  Verena Hanshaw then shot over from the one of the resulting corners as both sides had early attacks.

Kerolin’s crosses from the right-hand side were looking dangerous for Manchester City with another low one going across goal.  Another cross from the right side led to shots from Jill Roord and Jess Park being blocked by Shelina Zadorsky in the Hammers defence in the 15th minute.

In the 20th minute, Seraina Piubel’s hanging cross for the hosts was put behind for a corner. Anouk Denton then headed over in the 27th minute. 

The visitors had the next opportunity but Laura Wienroither’s cross was comfortably stopped by Szemik.

Murphy got on the end of a through ball for City but her dipping shot from just outside the area was caught by the West Ham goalkeeper.

In the 39th minute, the Hammers had the best chance of the match so far when Piubel was played in but her shot from 20-yards was pushed behind by Yamashita for a corner.

Three minutes later, the hosts had another good opportunity but the Citizens goalkeeper this time kept out Ueki’s header.

Murphy was looking threatening for the away side on the left side with her curling shot going just wide as half time approached.

West Ham had the final chance of the first half with the final kick of it when Ueki’s effort from 6-yards was saved.

Manchester City did well to defend an early second half attack from the home side.

The first attempt at goal in the second half didn’t come until the 58th minute but Szemik easily dealt with Park’s header for the Citizens.

In the 61st minute, Roord broke into the area for City with her cross finding Murphy whose low shot was saved.

A bit of frantic play in the visitors penalty area finished with Denton’s shot being stopped by Yamashita.

Shaw was brought on as a substitute for the Citizens in the 66th minute, and immediately saw her low cross blocked before Roord had a shot saved.  Minutes late, Shaw tried an acrobatic overhead kick but this too was stopped by the goalkeeper.

City went close to taking the lead in the 72nd minute when Wienroither smashed an effort against the crossbar from 6-yards following a corner.

The game had changed in the visitors favour since Shaw had come on, and she headed just the wrong side of the post.  Roord fired straight at the goalkeeper just before she was replaced by Vivianne Miedema.

Manchester City took the lead in the 80th minute when Shaw finished from close-range to score her 12th league goal of the season after Miedema had got a slight touch on Mary Fowler’s cross to her.

Just after four additional minutes had been signalled, Pavi got onto Ueki’s backheel, cut into the area and curled a shot into the net to equalise for West Ham.

The draw leaves Manchester City in fourth place in the WSL, a point behind Arsenal having played a game more.  West Ham remain in ninth position, nine points above the relegation spot.

Line ups

West Ham United (3-4-2-1): Szemik, Nystrom (Saez 73’), Tysaik, Zadorsky (Ademiluyi 56’), Denton, Siren, Gorry (c) (Brynjarsdottir 79’), Hanshaw, Piubel, Ueki, Martinez (Pavi 46’)

Unused substitutes: Walsh, Smith, Bergman Lundin, Harries, Mengwen

Goal – Pavi 90’+1

Manchester City (4-1-4-1): Yamashita, Wienroither, Prior, Aleixandri (c), Casparij (Ouahabi 46’), Hasegawa, Kerolin (Coombs 72’), Park, Roord (Miedema 77’), Murphy (Shaw 66’), Fowler

Unused substitutes: Annets, Keating, Layzell, Oyama, Davies

Goal – Shaw 80’

Referee – Grace Lowe