Women’s Super League: Siren’s Volley Rescues Point For West Ham

Oona Siren’s stunning volley helped Women’s Super League relegation battlers West Ham fight back to earn a point against London City Lionesses.

Jana Fernandez had put London City in front with a goal on the break during a first half in which the Hammers lacked a cutting edge in attack.

Finnish midfielder Siren ensured the Hammers salvaged something from the game with an eye-catching first goal for the club, scored from just outside the box.

West Ham showed some positive early intent but were punished in the 20th minute when they were caught on the counterattack.

London City broke from a West Ham corner through Freya Godfrey, who fed Fernandez and the Spaniard guided the ball into the corner of the net despite a last-ditch challenge from Estelle Cascarino.

The Hammers failed to register a shot on target in the first half although Riko Ueki and Shekiera Martinez both dragged wide from good positions.

Isobel Goodwin should have added a second for London City on the hour when she poked an effort wide from Godfrey’s cutback.

But an improved display from West Ham after the interval was rewarded when Saki Kumagai’s headed clearance from a Viviane Asseyi free-kick was met by a sweet strike from Siren which deceived Elene Lete.

West Ham had chances to win it late on when Martinez’s deep cross picked out Ueki, but she could only direct her header agonisingly wide and Martinez went close with a long-range effort which flashed just wide of the top-left corner.

West Ham have failed to win any of their last four games in the WSL but with only three fixtures remaining this could well end up an valuable point.

West Ham are next in WSL action on 26 April with a trip to Liverpool, while London City host Leceister on the same day.