Manchester United Women secured their second win of the Women’s Super League campaign by overcoming a tough West Ham side. It was our first away day of the season, as we ran out 2-0 winners against the Hammers. The Red Devils are now two wins from two; who remain second in the table.
Dominant first half BUT UNABLE TO bREAKTHROUGH
United dominated the first 45 minutes but were unable to convert their chances. We came close early on when Katie Zelem’s cross into the box was blocked by on the line by West Ham’s Katie Longhurst. A great team move appeared to open the scoring inside 20 minutes but was ruled out as offside. Maya Le Tissier hit a diagonal ball that made its way through to Leah Galton who had poked the ball past the Hammers’s keeper Mackenzie Arnold. We would have to wait to see us go ahead in the game.
As we reached half-time, the Red Devils were under pressure from the opposition as Millie Turner cleared the ball off the line to stop us from being 1-0 down. Turner then nearly converted Zelem’s free-kick at the other end moments later.
United took THE Advantage In THE SECOND HALF
The second half saw the game open up even more and it would be United who take full advantage of the situation. Five minutes in and the breakthrough came from Lucia Garcia. She had latched onto a pass from Maya Le Tissier that broke the West Ham backline before rounding the goalkeeper to slot the ball into the net giving us the lead.
The pressure was maintained and our efforts rewarded as five minutes later Hannah Blundell doubled the lead. Blundell picked up Ona Batlle’s ball from outside the box finding the corner of the goal to press home United’s advantage.
West Ham did play their way back into the game and had thought they had pulled a goal back when Lucy Parker latched onto the deflected ball inside the box to score past Mary Earps. However, after consulting with the assistant, the referee ruled it out for offside.
United captain Katie Zelem went close late on but her long-range effort was saved by Mackenzie Arnold. Whilst the Hammers continued to push in the final stages, our defence held their own to earn a second win and clean sheet too.
We now have another away trip when we head to Aston Villa on Saturday to begin our Continental Cup campaign.