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Saturday 19 April 2025 15:04
Manchester United were held to a goalless draw by West Ham in the capital, meaning we were only able to add another point to our hopes of securing Champions League football for next season.
The Reds came close on a couple of occasions, with Celin Bizet and Gabby George both hitting the woodwork in the first half.
West Ham had a few chances of their own in the second half, which Phallon Tullis-Joyce was across with relative ease.
United, meanwhile, pushed for a winner with Grace Clinton coming close with a long-range effort, but ultimately we couldn’t find a way through the Hammers’ defence.
Elisabeth Terland headed narrowly wide for United in the first half.
FIRST HALF
West Ham started the game strongly with an early chance from a set piece, but Eva Nystrom headed wide Viviane Asseyi’s delivery.
Gabby George had a battle on her hands trying to contain Shekiera Martinez but our no. 3 handled the threat well in the opening stages of the game.
United were patient and remained calm when out of possession, as our efforts to grow into the game were rewarded with a big chance 20 minutes in. The Hammers failed to clear it from their box and, as Elisabeth Terland looked to fashion a shot, it fell to Celin Bizet whose strike rattled the woodwork.
When West Ham had the ball, they attacked quickly. Riko Ueki nutmegged Maya Le Tissier but Jayde Riviere jumped higher than Asseyi and headed it away from danger.
There were half-chances for Terland, Grace Clinton and Leah Galton before the break as the former made promising runs into the box while the latter headed wide.
Bizet was causing a lot of problems down the right and delivered several good crosses but the Reds couldn’t capitalise on those chances.
The wind was playing its part in London and a corner delivered by Gabby George almost dipped in the goal, Hammers keeper Kinga Szemik watched it all the way as it bounced off the top of the crossbar. The Reds would have to be wary of that in the second half.
SECOND HALF
United had a great chance to take the lead just minutes after the restart. Patient build up play ended with Terland’s header which looked to be nestling into the bottom corner but Szemik got down low and managed to hold onto the ball.
George gave away a free kick as the game began to open up. Helped by the wind, it was delivered deep into the box but Tullis-Joyce calmly rose above Nystrom to pluck the ball from the air before she could get her head to it.
Our shot-stopper had very little to do in the first half but was being tested more in the second but she stayed alert and comfortably handled any pressure from the hosts.
The fresh legs of the substitutes for both sides had injected some energy into this second half and Seraina Piubel sent in a cross which ended up being more like a shot, but Tullis-Joyce watched it and caught it.
For Marc Skinner’s side, a number of crosses were starting to go begging but the addition of Malard meant there was always someone racing into the box to meet them.
Clinton had been kept quiet for much of the game but she had a couple of chances in the second half including a powerful first-time strike from 20 yards out which whistled just over the top of the goal.
West Ham’s defence were hard to break down and despite our best efforts to search for a winner, we were forced to settle for a point.
It means we stay in the division’s third and final Champions League place, eight points ahead of Manchester City with three matches left to play, although the Blues do have a chance to close that gap against Everton on Sunday.
Showing appreciation for your support in the capital.
MATCH DETAILS
West Ham:
Szemik; Nystrom, Li Mengwen, Tysiak, Zadorsky, Hanshaw; Siren, Gorry (c) (Brynjarsdottir 79), Asseyi (Piubel 62); Ueki, Martinez (Pavi 88).
Unused subs: Walsh, Denton, Saez, Smith, Ademiluyi, Harries.
Bookings: Li Mengwen.
United: Tullis-Joyce; Riviere, Le Tissier (c), Turner, George (Sandberg 64); Clinton, Miyazawa (Janssen 83), Toone (Williams 73); Bizet, Terland, Galton (Malard 64).
Unused subs: Middleton-Patel, Rendell, Mannion, Awujo, Naalsund.
Bookings: Turner, George.
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Saturday 19 April 2025 15:04
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