West Ham United Women 4-5 Brighton & Hove Albion
Barclays Women’s Super League, Chigwell Construction Stadium, Sunday 6 November 2022.
West Ham United Women were edged out by the odd goal in nine by Brighton & Hove Albion in a Barclays Women’s Super League thriller on Sunday.
The Hammers made their trademark start once the rainclouds had cleared in east London, with Lisa Evans scoring with a floating effort into the bottom corner that eluded goalkeeper Megan Walsh.
But the away side responded instantly, with Danielle Carter seizing on a mistake at the back from Sophie Hillyerd to fire the ball into an empty net. Veatriki Sarri then put the Seagulls ahead, prodding home from close range to give them a 3-1 lead at half-time.
In the second half, Dagny Brynjarsdottir scored her seventh goal of the season to bridge the gap, but goals from Elisabeth Terland and Jorja Fox put the away side further in front.
Viviane Asseyi led the Hammers comeback as time ticked down with two late goals in the space of three minutes, but Brighton would hang on to take all three points.
Paul Konchesky named an unchanged side from the defeat to Arsenal last weekend, with Sophie Hillyerd continuing to deputise in goal for the injured Mackenzie Arnold.
After pausing before the match to remember those that we have lost in conflicts throughout history ahead of Remembrance Day, the Hammers kicked off as the sunshine began to emerge at Chigwell Construction Stadium.
And Konchesky’s side made their typical fast start, with Scotland international Evans finding the back of the net after only three minutes to give the home side the lead.
Brighton almost equalised only a minute later, but defender Poppy Pattinson, who had pushed forward from her native right-back position, but she could not steer her header on target.
The away side did level quickly, though, as Carter was able to capitalise on a mistake by Hillyerd and had the easiest of tap-ins into the empty net.
And the side that were being managed by interim boss Amy Merricks found themselves ahead after Sarri was able to prod the ball home after good work from Katie Robinson.
It didn’t stop there for Brighton, who found there third on 20 minutes. Julia Zigiotti Olme was felled under a challenge from Grace Fisk, with referee Stephen Parkinson pointing to the spot. Carter stood over the penalty spot and confidently dispatched beyond Hillyerd.
The Hammers were second best for much of the first half having fallen behind, with Brighton looking the more likely to add another.
Sarri had another chance before half-time, but her shot was well charged down by Fisk – whilst Elizabeth Turland had her shot saved by Hillyerd as the Hammers licked their wounds going into the break.
In the second half, Sarri continued to be the source of all things good for the Seagulls. Her curling free-kick almost nestled in the bottom corner of Hillyerd’s goal.
Zigiotti Olme then hit the crossbar directly from a corner as Merricks' team continued with their advancements in the final third.
But the Hammers were not out of this contest just yet, with Brynjarsdottir heading in her sixth goal in as many matches to pull her side back into the contest on 59 minutes.
Hillyerd then produced a miraculous save to deny the away side, but Brighton would add fourth from the resulting corner – with Terland stabbing the ball home from close range as Risa Shimizu tried in vain to keep the ball out.
Jorja Fox, fresh from the Brighton bench, then added a fifth from close range to compound the misery for Konchesky’s team.
But this West Ham United side under Konchesky have always given everything until the end, and two goals from Asseyi on 84 and 86 minutes made for a very interesting final few minutes in east London.
Claudia Walker even struck the post late on as the Irons came within inches of completing a miraculous comeback, but Brighton would hold on to take all three points, despite a spirited fightback from Konchesky’s side.
West Ham United: Hillyerd, Smith (Walker 83), Longhurst, Fisk, Shimizu, Brynjarsdottir (Houssein 83), Hayashi (Filis 46), Stringer (Flannery 76), Kyvag (Atkinson 36), Evans, Asseyi.
Booking: Filis 53, Stringer 60.
Goals: Evans 3, Brynjarsdottir 59, Asseyi 84, 86
Brighton & Hove Albion: Walsh, Pattinson, Sarri, Geum-Min, Zigiotti Olme, Terland (Park Ye-Eun 90), Green (Fox 67), Kullberg, Carter (Bance 89), Williams, Robinson.
Subs: Startup, Jarvis, Ferguson.
Booking: Kullberg 45, Green 59
Goals: Carter 8, 20, Sarri 11, Terland 69, Fox 71
Attendance: 1,129
Referee: Stephen Parkinson
