West Ham into semi-finals of Women’s FA Cup after narrow victory over Ipswich Town
By Tom Chambers
Lisa Evans’ goal puts West Ham into semi-finals of FA Cup
The win against Ipswich Town sets up West Ham Women’s first FA Cup semi-final since 2019. The Hammers beat Reading on penalties on that occasion but lost to a strong Manchester City team in the final.
Lisa Evans was the match winner at the Goldstar Ground as she ran on to a Melisa Filis through ball and finished past Sarah Quantrill in the Ipswich goal.
West Ham are already enjoying a successful league campaign, as evidenced by the fact that they set a club record Women’s Super League (WSL) points total when they drew with Manchester United on Wednesday evening. This FA Cup run only adds to the feel-good factor at the East London club.
West Ham Manager, Olli Harder, spoke to whufc.com about his happiness with the club’s achievements this season.
"“We’ve taken a big step forward this season and still have five more league games to go, plus a semi-final to look forward to. I have to give credit to the players and the staff for taking the steps forward that we have done this season.”"
Olli Harder made seven changes to the team that started against Manchester United in the WSL on Wednesday evening as Lucy Parker, Zaneta Wyne, Lois Joel, Halle Houssein, Melisa Filis, Lisa Evans and Claudia Walker all came into the side. Gilly Flaherty, Kate Longhurst, Katerina Svitkova, Yui Hasegawa, Dagny Brynjarsdottir, Tameka Yallop and Adriana Leon all dropped to the bench.
Claudia Walker went close for West Ham in the opening exchanges when she received the ball in the Ipswich Town penalty area after good work on the left from Wyne. Walker though, couldn’t quite sort her feet out in time as the ball rolled narrowly wide of the post.
The Hammers dominated proceedings against the lowest ranked team remaining in the competition. Filis was next to try her luck but her shot from distance flew harmlessly over the crossbar.
Ipswich Town goalkeeper, Sarah Quantrill, produced a good save when she flung herself to her left to touch Halle Houssein’s shot around the post.
Quantrill was called into action again from the resulting corner as she did very well to tip Wyne’s improvised effort onto the crossbar.
West Ham did get themselves in front when Lisa Evans scored in the 32nd minute. Evans was played through on goal by a well-weighted pass by Filis. Evans used her pace to get to the ball just before the onrushing Ipswich goalkeeper and made no mistake with her finish as she poked the ball past Quantrill and into the net.
Walker thought she had doubled West Ham’s lead in the second half when she turned in the area and arrowed a shot towards the near post. Quantrill though, was equal to it again as she somehow adjusted to make a save with her right hand while her body weight was moving in the opposite direction.
The Tractor Girls made it very difficult for their WSL opponents in this match. Olli Harder felt the need to introduce the likes of Flaherty, Hasegawa and Brynjarsdottir in an attempt to increase West Ham’s narrow lead. The fact that Ipswich, a team containing 17 graduates in their squad of 20, kept themselves in the match for the whole 90 minutes against a team of top fight professionals was a credit to Joe Sheehan and his players.
West Ham will find out the identity of their semi-final opponents when the draw takes place at 18:30 on Monday evening. The Hammers will face either Arsenal, Chelsea or Manchester City.
Having watched his team play four games in the past 10 days, Olli Harder will now be grateful for the opportunity to give his players some rest before the Hammers host Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday.