Kolkata: West Ham United earned their first Women’s Super League victory of the season with a battling 2-1 win over London City Lionesses at Victoria Road on Saturday. Kelly Gago and Viviane Asseyi were the goal scorers for the hosts, who produced an impressive performance to hand London City their first defeat of the campaign.
West Ham went ahead through Gago, who showed her pace and power to fire the hosts in front and Asseyi made it two inside the first 45 minutes of the encounter.
London City hit back through a Daniëlle van de Donk back-heeled strike from the edge of the box, following a corner delivered by substitute Kadidiatou Diani, but West Ham held on for a vital three points.
The result is a huge early season statement from West Ham, who were in desperate need of a win under manager Rita Guarino. They had finally got off the mark, and beaten a London City team who arrived at the Victoria Road Stadium with high expectations after a big summer recruitment drive.
For London City the result is their first defeat of the new WSL campaign, after they opened their league with a 2-1 win against Manchester United. Despite spending heavily in the summer and bringing in stars such as Alexia Putellas, Mapi Leon, Diani and Mary Earps, they were unable to follow up their opening day success.
West Ham’s win will give them a huge boost at this early stage, though London City will look to respond immediately as they aim to push themselves into the upper echelon of WSL sides.
