Riko Ueki and Sophie Howard on target as West Ham draw with Leicester

West Ham and Leicester fought out a 1-1 draw in the Women’s Super League at the Chigwell Construction Stadium.

In what was an even contest until late Leicester superiority, Riko Ueki put the Hammers ahead and Sophie Howard levelled for the visitors.

West Ham, who had secured their WSL status last weekend, dominated the early stages with Jess Ziu testing Foxes goalkeeper Janina Leitzig before Ueki struck after 13 minutes.

Honoka Hayashi’s surging run set up her Japanese compatriot and Ueki made no mistake from inside the box for her fifth WSL goal of the season.

Leicester responded through Jutta Rantala’s free-kick that Mackenzie Arnold tipped over before Hammers forward Viviane Asseyi had two chances inside 30 seconds.

Asseyi connected well with the first opportunity driven firmly at Leitzig and drifted the second narrowly past the far post.

Leicester, without a win in six games, levelled after Rantala dragged her shot wide and Missy Goodwin fired straight at Arnold.

Rantala sent a corner to the near post and Howard met it with a thumping header for her first WSL goal of the campaign.

Ueki headed over from a Hammers free-kick and Leicester had the ball in the net at the other end after the restart.

Lena Petermann directed Rantala’s free-kick goalwards but Janice Cayman was in an offside position before rifling the ball past Arnold high in to the net.

Leicester, however, were encouraged by that near miss and began to get on top with Arnold denying Howard, Saori Takarada and Nicole Momiki in quick succession.

Momiki had another inviting opening to put Leicester ahead but her miskick from eight yards allowed Arnold to claw the ball away to safety.

The Hammers goal came under siege in the final quarter and Leicester somehow failed to turn the ball across the line as Rantala’s umpteenth corner caused panic in home ranks.

Leicester also struck the woodwork in the final minutes but West Ham held on for a share of the spoils.

The Hammers stay 11th in the WSL standings, one place and three points below Leicester.