Katrina Gorry and Mackenzie Arnold have triumphed over Matildas teammates Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord and Kyra Cooney-Cross as relegation-threatened West Ham surprised a star-studded Arsenal within the Ladies’s Tremendous League.
In arguably the shock of the WSL thus far this season, West Ham on Sunday put clear water between themselves and Bristol Metropolis on the backside of the desk, whereas additionally doubtlessly ending Arsenal’s title probabilities.
Mackenzie Arnold makes an attempt to clear the ball for West Ham.Credit score: Getty Pictures
A Sam Kerr-less Chelsea had been chasing a win within the late kickoff towards struggling Everton to go two video games away from Arsenal on the high of the WSL, a situation that would depart the Blues and second-placed Manchester Metropolis to battle out the title race.
At Metropolis’s Joie Stadium, the house aspect beat Courtney Nevin’s Leicester Metropolis 2-0 due to targets to England duo Lauren Hemp and Chloe Kelly. Mary Fowler, struggling for recreation time in a squad full of internationals, got here on within the 77th minute for Laura Coombs. Alanna Kennedy, nonetheless coming back from harm, remained on the bench.
In east London, Alessia Russo struck with a header earlier than the break for Arsenal, however West Ham hit again within the fiftieth minute after Steph Catley conceded a penalty on the sting of the field – although whether or not the contact occurred contained in the field was questionable. With no VAR to verify, French worldwide Viviane Asseyi made no mistake from the spot to equalise.
Katrina Gorry, pictured right here eluding Arsenal’s Vivienne Miedema, is proving one of many WSL buys of the season.Credit score: Getty Pictures
Simply eight minutes later, West Ham had been forward when a poor clearance from Arsenal keeper Manuela Zinsberger ended up on the toes of French defender Hawa Cissoko, who hammered it into the coroner of the online.
West Ham had been in a position to face up to a wave of late Arsenal assaults to seal a well-known victory – their first-ever WSL win over their London rivals.
West Ham captain Arnold instructed the BBC the win was well-deserved.