Match reportOlivia Smith scores first goal but Liverpool held to 1-1 draw by West Ham in WSL
Olivia Smith’s first goal for the club – a superb solo strike – put the Reds into an early lead at Chigwell Construction Stadium on Sunday, but the hosts snatched a point through an 85th-minute header from Riko Ueki.
Matt Beard’s side have therefore collected two points from their opening two games of the new WSL season, following last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Leicester City.
The afternoon started so brightly for the visitors, who were immediately on the front foot with summer signing Smith heavily involved.
Inventive work from the No.11 saw her tee up Taylor Hinds, but the captain miscued her shot and the chance was gone.
Soon after, though, Smith opted to go it alone – and she did so to brilliant effect.
Marie Höbinger intercepted a poor clearance from West Ham goalkeeper Kinga Szemik and the ball found its way to Smith, who deceived two opponents with a sharp turn before curling a fine, left-footed effort into the far corner.
The visitors sensed an opportunity to quickly press home their advantage and Höbinger sent a half-volley over the crossbar from 20 yards.
However, the pressure on the West Ham goal would dissipate as the half wore on, though Reds ’keeper Rachael Laws remained largely untroubled.
There was a clear upturn in tempo and purpose about Liverpool in the early stages of a second half that nearly began with a second goal when Ceri Holland fired wide from the edge of the area.
Fuka Nagano then located Smith with an excellent pass and again the forward showed quick feet to burst beyond her marker. This time, though, she opted to cross instead of shoot and Sophie Roman Haug was beaten to the ball by a defender.
A rare counter-attack from West Ham spelled danger until Jasmine Matthews produced a fine defensive header before, at the other end, Roman Haug nodded a Höbinger corner over the bar.
After Jenna Clark had blocked a Katrina Gorry attempt, Beard turned to his bench and made a quadruple substitution in a bid to freshen his team up.
Skipper Niamh Fahey was also introduced soon after but Liverpool were unable to see out the remainder as Ueki beat Laws to a delivery into the box and looped her header into the unguarded net.
TEAM
Liverpool: Laws, Parry (Daniels, 76), Bonner, Clark (Fahey, 79), Matthews, Hinds, Nagano, Holland (Lundgaard, 76), Höbinger, Smith (Enderby, 75), Roman H. (Kiernan, 76).
Unused subs: Spencer, Evans, Kapocs, Silcock.
NEXT UP
The Reds’ Women’s League Cup campaign begins with an away game against Manchester United on Wednesday night (7pm BST kick-off).
Four days later, on Sunday October 6, Liverpool visit Tottenham Hotspur for their third WSL fixture of 2024-25. Kick-off at Brisbane Road is scheduled for 2.15pm and the match will be broadcast live on the BBC.
