West Ham climb to sixth in WSL after Birmingham City victory – Match Report

West Ham Women claim narrow 0-1 victory over Birmingham City at St Andrew’s.

The home team made it difficult for the Hammers, but Adriana Leon’s first half goal was enough to claim all three points for Olli Harder’s team. The result moved West Ham up to sixth in the Women’s Super League (WSL) table thanks to Manchester United’s win against Reading.

Adriana Leon scored her first goal since her return from injury when she volleyed Katerina Svitkova’s corner past the Reading goalkeeper in the 41st minute. West Ham Manager, Olli Harder, told whufc.com how happy he was for the Canadian attacker.

"“There weren’t too many chances throughout the game, but we scored the big one that came our way. It was a great delivery from Kateřina and we’re so pleased that Adriana has managed to get on the scoresheet. She’s had a long time out injured, and to have that impact on the game and then score the winning goal was fantastic.”"

Harder was expected to rotate his squad ahead of the trip to face Birmingham at St Andrew’s, and so it proved as he made three changes to the team that started Thursday’s defeat to Chelsea three days ago. Anna Leat, Emma Snerle, Abbey Leigh-Stringer and Adriana Leon started the match in place of Mackenzie Arnold, Yui Hasegawa, Zaneta Wynn and Tameka Yallop.

Reading Interim Manager, Darren Carter, made one change to the Blues team that lost to Arsenal last weekend as Lisa Robertson started in central midfield. Emily Whelan took her place on the bench.

The first sight of goal for either team came in the 21st minute when Dagny Brynjarsdottir almost played Emma Snerle in behind the Birmingham defence with a well-disguised through ball. The Blues’ goalkeeper, Marie Hourihan, was quick off her line and gathered the ball just before Snerle could take it under control.

Lucy Quinn then went close for the home side after she powered past Lucy Parker in the West Ham penalty area, but her shot was well saved by Anna Leat at the near post.

The deadlock was broken in the 41st minute when Adriana Leon met Svitkova’s outswinging corner. Leon did well to direct the ball past the Birmingham goalkeeper with her improvised finish.

The home side almost equalised before half time when a loose pass from Brynjarsdottir gave Lucy Quinn another sight of goal. Quinn took her shot first time from outside the box, but her effort flew over the crossbar.

Lisa Evans almost put the Hammers two up after the interval as a slick West Ham move ended with her shooting narrowly wide of the far post. The attack began with the impressive Yui Hasegawa battling to keep possession in midfield before she then drove forward and passed to Evans on the right side of the Birmingham penalty area. Evans’ first touch took her a little wider of the goal than she would’ve liked, and she was unable to find the far corner from a tight angle.

As the game wore on, the home side were forced to leave themselves susceptible to the counterattack as they committed more and more players forward in search of a late equaliser.

Lisa Evans had another chance to get herself on the score sheet when Hasegawa put her in behind the Birmingham defence for a second time. Evans controlled the ball on the halfway line before utilising her blistering pace to run away from the backtracking Birmingham defenders. Evans though, couldn’t find the far corner with her left foot finish as the ball rolled agonisingly wide of the goal.

Olli Harder’s team held on to claim all three points as the Hammers climbed to sixth in the table.

West Ham will play their third game in six days when they face off against third-place Manchester United on Wednesday evening.