In what was their first fixture in any competition in over a month, West Ham suffered a heart-breaking 2-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur Women in the Women’s Super League.
Kenza Dali’s injury time equaliser looked to be enough after the debuting Emma Mitchell’s opener for the home side, but Rianna Dean’s 96th minute winner sealed the three points for Spurs.
West Ham head coach Matt Beard fielded a strong side for the game, with defender Grace Fisk making her debut in place of the departed Brooke Hendrix who signed for National Women’s Soccer League side Washington Spirit.
West Ham had the first chance of the game from Adriana Leon, who celebrated a year at the club after signing in the January transfer window in 2019. The forward headed Alisha Lemann’s cross over the bar.
Spurs Dominance
Spurs were almost gifted a goal after Kim Graham dispossessed West Ham goalkeeper Kim Brosnan before Rosella Ayane squandered a great opportunity for the hosts.
Ayane had another chance to opening the scoring, as her surging run on the left wing was finished off by a shot which was tipped away for a corner by Brosnan.
From the resulting corner, which was initially cleared off the line, the ball fell to the feet of Emma Mitchell who signed on loan from North London rivals, Arsenal. Her left footed strike on the edge of the box evaded everyone and arrowed into the bottom corner to give Spurs the lead.
The Lilywhites came close to doubling their lead through Ayane who was a constant threat for Spurs. This time, her header cannoned off the bar just before half time.
West Ham responded with a long-range strike from Leon but failed to test Becky Spencer.
Spurs’ head coach, Karen Hill was forced into a change as goalkeeper Spencer was substituted for Chloe Morgan.
Brilliant Brosnan
After the restart, Brosnan was immediately called into action as Graham’s header from Ayane’s cross was caught by the shot stopper. Beard’s response was a double substitute, as he brought on attacking outlets in Julia Simic for Kate Longhurst and Jacynta Galabadaarachchi for Leon.
Whilst the play in midfield improved for the Irons, it was Spurs who were the most threatening as Rianna Dean’s half-volley in a congested West Ham penalty area was well saved by Brosnan.
Crucial Chances
With 15 minutes to go, Kenza Dali’s teasing free kick into the Spurs penalty area was just missed by the outstretching Laura Vetterlein.
Moments later, Martha Thomas was put through on goal, but the forward was denied by Morgan who was finally tested since being brought on at half-time.
In an after where Spurs were threatening from set-pieces, they came close to sealing the three points as Hannah Godfrey’s header was denied by Beard’s final substitute, Leanne Kiernan who cleared off the line.
Late Drama
The Hammers’ late pressure was eventually rewarded. After Mitchell’s volley went just wide for Spurs, the Hammers attacked Tottenham’s right side, as Dali fired Fisk’s cutback into the bottom left corner in the 90th minute, with a further nine minutes left of injury time to play.
With their tails up, the Hammers nearly scored an unlikely winner as Tessa Middag’s tame shot was easily caught by Spencer.
The Hammers’ hard work was quickly undone, as substitute Angela Addison dribbled into the box from the left wing before her right footed cross was headed into the top corner by Dean who pealed away from Fisk on the six-yard box.
Dean’s goal was her third in three matches against West Ham, proving to be a thorn in the Hammers’ side this season.
Whilst the win for Spurs lifts them up to fifth, West Ham’s sixth defeat of the season means that they remain in eighth place with two games in hand against Everton and Bristol City.
