West Ham United Women 0-5 Liverpool Women
Pre-season friendly, Loughborough University Stadium, Sunday 21 August
West Ham United Women were on the wrong end of a disappointing 5-0 defeat against Liverpool in their latest pre-season outing.
The Reds were in ruthless form at the University Stadium, with goals Katie Stengel, Shanice van de Sanden and a hattrick from Leanne Kiernan giving them a deserved victory on Sunday afternoon.
Paul Konchesky’s Hammers concluded a three day pre-season camp at Loughborough University with the friendly against Matt Beard’s.
The Hammers survived a scare in the opening stages, with Mackenzie Arnold producing a good save to deny Missy-Bo Kearns from inside the area.
It took some time for the ‘home’ side to get going in the game, as they looked to get in behind the Liverpool backline, which included former West Ham captain, Gilly Flaherty.
Konchesky’s side had their first chance of the game when Kirsty Smith got to the byline and did brilliantly to cross in a great ball that Jess Ziu volleyed narrowly wide of the left-hand post.
But it would be Liverpool who would take the lead at the University Stadium after 16 minutes. Katie Stengel ran across the front post and was able to head beyond Arnold and put her side ahead.
Viviane Asseyi almost had her side back level four minutes later. The French international picked the ball up just outside the area and wrapped a shot narrowly wide of the post.
A corner from Yui Hasegawa caused issues at the back for the Liverpool defenders, with the ball eventually bouncing off the crossbar and away from danger.
In the second half, Liverpool were looking to get their second in the early stages. Stengel nearly added her second on two occasions, first she was denied by a wonderful save from Arnold. Then from the resulting corner, the American headed onto the crossbar from close range.
The away side added their second of the afternoon through Shanice van de Sanden, who was on hand at the back post to head home after some good play on the left-hand side by Melissa Lawley.
The Irons worked hard to try and get back into the game, but it would be the Reds who would go further ahead of 65 minutes. Hawa Cissoko was adjudged to have brought down former Hammer, Leanne Kiernan in the area. The forward’s penalty was saved well by Arnold, but she was able to convert from the rebound to make it three.
And it would be four for Liverpool only four minutes later – with Kiernan tapping in her second of the afternoon.
The Irish forward would complete her hattrick with 74 minutes on the clock, slotting the ball beyond Arnold to add more misery to her former side.
It was an afternoon to forget for the Hammers, as they now return back to east London to continue preparations for the upcoming Barclays Women’s Super League season.
West Ham United: Arnold, Cissoko ©, Fisk, Longhurst, Ziu, Smith (Atkinson 60), Houssein (Flannery 74), Hasegawa, Asseyi, Walker, Kyvåg (Filis 60).
Unused Subs: Hillyerd.
