West Ham 1-1 Liverpool: Riko Ueki late goal snatches draw for hosts

Riko Ueki scored an injury-time equaliser to snatch a point for West Ham at home to Liverpool in the Women’s Super League.

A draw seemed an unlikely result after the visitors’ dominance throughout the majority of the game, and it was not until time added on that West Ham managed a shot on target.

The Reds controlled the first half and Ceri Holland went close shortly before the break, her curling effort rattling the crossbar after neat footwork.

The woodwork came to West Ham’s rescue once more as Gemma Bonner nodded a corner against the frame of the goal.

Liverpool ramped up their pressure, and the goal had been coming when Marie Hobinger broke the deadlock, coolly tucking into the bottom right corner from the edge of the box.

But West Ham fought back late on with Izzy Atkinson having an effort saved before Ueki bundled home from close range in the fifth added minute.

The result means Liverpool failed to bounce back to winning ways following last weekend’s Merseyside derby defeat by Everton.

West Ham have four points from their opening four games, while Liverpool have seven.

Liverpool denied at the last

Liverpool’s wave of early momentum – recording impressive back-to-back wins over Arsenal and Aston Villa – was cut short as they fell to a 1-0 defeat by Everton at Anfield last Sunday.

They could not get back to winning ways on this occasion, despite being the stronger side for so long.

It took until the 52nd minute for them to capitalise on their foothold, but it was a controlling display that should give encouragement even if it failed to yield three points.

Hammers goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold was attentive when called into action, parrying away a wicked Fuka Nagano half-volley.

Liverpool’s back three was mostly solid, although a stroke of luck played a helping hand as Viviane Asseyi slipped inside the box on one of West Ham’s rare forward forays.

It took until the closing moments for West Ham to have their first truly threatening period of pressure, with substitute Atkinson particularly lively inside the box.

Irons manager Rehanne Skinner shifted her side’s shape with substitute Melisa Filis sitting deep in midfield, and her cross caused the scramble that allowed Ueki to poke home the equaliser.

Last season was mostly an exercise in avoiding the drop for Liverpool, and although their early promise has not been maintained it remains a strong start for the team who finished seventh last term.

The WSL now pauses for the international break, and once it resumes Liverpool will face a tough test against high-flying Leicester City on Sunday, 5 November. West Ham host promoted Bristol City on the same day.