West Ham 2-3 Bristol City: Visitors get off the mark for the season

Bristol City earned their first points of the Women’s Super League season as they came from behind to run out 3-2 winners at West Ham.

Goals from Amalie Thestrup, Ella Powell and Brooke Aspin earned the visitors a hard-fought victory in East London.

Viviane Asseyi’s penalty had put the Hammers in front and Riko Ueki made it 2-2 on the stroke of half-time, but the hosts slipped to third third WSL defeat of the campaign.

West Ham started on the front foot and had the first dangerous attack after eight minutes.

A through-ball from Izzy Atkinson found Lisa Evans on the left byline. Her cross into the area picked out Ueki, but the forward lost her footing as she attempted to fire home.

Honoka Hayashi blasted over the bar after 17 minutes, although there were signs Bristol City were starting to get a foothold in the game.

However, the hosts struck first in the 27th minute from the penalty spot.

Megan Connolly handled in the area from Atkinson’s shot following a Kirsty Smith cross and Asseyi made no mistake from 12 yards, leaving goalkeeper Kaylan Marckese rooted to the spot.

West Ham looked in the mood to add to their tally and Atkinson put her shot wide soon afterwards.

Yet they were stunned twice in the space of six minutes as Bristol City turned the game around.

A cross from the left after 32 minutes from Rachel Furness found Thestrup, who got in between two defenders to head past Mackenzie Arnold.

The scorer then turned provider when her overhead kick in the area was spilled by Arnold into the path of Powell, who followed up for her first WSL goal.

West Ham changed the complexion of the game again in added time at the end of the first half when Ueki turned and shot past Marckese for the equaliser.

Bristol City went back in front in the 54th minute as a free-kick from Connolly found the head of Aspin, whose effort went through the arms of Arnold and into the net.

The home team looked to hit back as their opponents seemed content to try and defend their advantage.

However, the visitors did have chances, Thestrup denied by the offside flag after 75 minutes and then by Hawa Cissoko shortly afterwards.

With six of added time, West Ham pushed for a last-gasp equaliser, but the visitors were able to see out the contest.