1. Towering Tysiak
Set-pieces were proving fruitful for the Hammers against Everton in the Barclays Women’s Super League on Sunday. Shekiera Martinez, Riko Ueki and Viviane Asseyi buzzed around the final third, drawing fouls and the opportunity to put the Toffees under more pressure.
Shelina Zadorsky, Asseyi and Martinez all went close from corners and free-kicks in the first half - leaving the Claret and Blue Army thinking that something had to give. But after Anouk Denton broke the deadlock, shortly before half-time, we did capitalise on a dead-ball situation.
Asseyi’s delivery was pinpoint, allowing Amber Tysiak to rise highest above everyone in the penalty area and plant a bullet header goalbound that flew past Toffees goalkeeper Emily Ramsey.
Wheeling away in celebration after netting her first goal of the season, her first for the Club since March, Tysiak was met by centre-back partner Zadorsky, and then the rest of the team, who huddled together as we doubled our advantage at a crucial time.
In truth, we had Tysiak to thank for not falling a goal behind, as she showed her importance at both ends of the pitch. On 18 minutes, Everton’s top-scorer Ornella Vignola raced through on goal with only Kinga Szemik to beat, but out of nowhere, Tysiak stormed back and produced a perfectly-timed tackle before the visiting No18 had the chance to let fly.
With 15 minutes to play, Tysiak then made a superb block to deny Katja Snoeijs, having also completed five recoveries and five clearances in east London.
2. Martinez on target, again
When West Ham United women’s team are on fire in front of goal, you can usually expect Shekiera Martinez to have a say in the scoreline - and indeed she did against Everton, scoring our third of the afternoon.
The Germany U23 international spoke before the game about how she prefers to strike instinctively, but once she’d sat down an Everton defender in the box with an elegant touch and got a clear sight at goal, she had time on her mind.
But she was ruthless as she hammered the ball into the left corner of the net, sending Emily Ramsey the wrong way to score her fourth goal in her last three matches and sixth of the season in all competitions.
In her debut year in the top flight, Martinez has now netted 12 WSL goals in 2025, the most of any player in the league.
A lot of credit for our No19’s goal has to go to Riko Ueki, who brilliantly picked out her teammate in the area, the second of two assists she registered against Everton.
3. WSL debut for Cemal
Sunday was another day to remember for 18-year-old Selin Cemal, as she made her WSL debut against the Toffees.
In the third minute of second-half stoppage time, the defender came on in place of Yu Endo to build on a positive week after her impressive performance against Southampton in the Subway® Women's League Cup on Wednesday night.
Cemal becomes our youngest player to make her debut in the top flight since Jessie Stapleton in December 2023.
4. What a first win meant to everyone
It seems obvious to say, but a first WSL win of the season meant the world to the Irons. The team has never gotten down about the start to the season, always determined to improve and get our first three-point haul on the board - and finally, that hard work was rewarded.
When the full-time whistle sounded at Chigwell Construction Stadium, Riko Ueki ran out from underneath the dugout, flinging her big puffer coat in the air in celebration, while captain Katrina Gorry slid to the ground doing the crossed Hammers.
Rehanne Skinner also expressed how much her side wanted to win for the fans, saying: “We wanted to give something back to the fans who have been so supportive.
“It's been fantastic the way that the fanbase has grown for us as well. We know it’s been tough, and for all of us we've been trying to improve that, to give fans something to celebrate.”
