Manchester City Women Hammer the Hammers

Manchester City Women put behind the disappointment of missing out on the WSL title by thumping West Ham to reach the FA Cup quarter final.

First half goals form Ellen White and Janine Beckie were added to in the second half by Rose Lavelle, Sam Mewis and Lauren Hemp as the blues hit five past the hapless Hammers.

It’s the second time in a week that City have faced West Ham, with the blues dominating last week’s final WSL game of the season but only winning 1-0. Hammers goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold was in inspired form last weekend, saving two City penalties but could do nothing to stop the blues from bagging a hatful on Sunday afternoon.

But in a repeat of the 2019 final, when City claimed the trophy at Wembley, the blues showed again why they are one of the top women’s team in the country however, in true City style, it wasn’t without giving a scare to the supporters.

Karima Taieb, in goal again for the injured Ellie Roebuck, was called into action early on to deny Maz Pacheco, who had three bites at the cherry but couldn’t find a way past the City stopper. And those misses looked to have proved costly on 15 minutes when White gave the blues the lead. Caroline Weir’s accurate delivery was met by the England striker, who made no mistake.

But if the blues thought they would have it easy for the next 75 minutes, they would be mistaken as two minutes later, the Hammers were level. Hawa Cissoko’s cross into the obox was met by the head of Abouk Denton, who beat Taieb at the back stick.

City have enjoyed a lot of success down the left side of the field through Hemp this season, and when the PFA Young Player of the Year was free again, there seemed only one outcome. Her delivery into the box was met by Beckie, who put City back in front on 39 minutes.

The blues turned up the pressure in the second half, with Hemp going close to making it 3-1, but the Hammers weren’t ready to lie down just yet. Denton fired over the bar and Leanne Kiernan came closest to an equaliser when her shot hit the crossbar as City suddenly looked unusually vulnerable at the back.

And the blues breathed a huge sigh of relief when Lavelle scored to give City a bit of breathing space. The USA international combined with her fellow World Cup winner Sam Mewis, with Lavelle latching onto Mewis’ through ball to bet Arnold.

City tried to put the tie to bed but found Arnold once again was blocking the way, but the blues did finish the job with two goals deep into injury time. Mewis grabbed her 16^th goal of an impressive first season in Manchester, before Hemp got on the scoresheet with a wicked shot that flew into he top corner.

The blues will now wait until next season to finish their FA Cup campaign, which we hope will end in another piece of silverware arriving at the Academy Stadium.

Final Score: Manchester City Women 5-1 West Ham Women