West Ham United 2-2 Birmingham City
Barclays FA Women’s Super League
Victoria Road
Wednesday 17 March 2021
West Ham United had to settle for a point as Birmingham City equalised with seconds to play at Victoria Road in the Barclays FA Women's Super League.
The Blues took the lead early on through Emily Murphy, but Emily van Egmond scored just after the restart whilst the home side only had 10 players on the field.
Katerina Svitkova rifled the ball into the net on 72 minutes, but Ruby Mace tapped home with only seconds to spare to share the spoils.
Olli Harder named an unchanged side from the 2-0 defeat to Chelsea last time out, with Anouk Denton coming onto the substitutes bench.
The Hammers started the better of the two sides, trying to work an opening for the game's first chance. That opportunity arrived on six minutes as van Egmond headed into the hands of Hannah Hampton.
The dominance was short-lived as a well worked corner from the visitors bounced around in the area, before Murphy found the net from close range to open the scoring on eight minutes.
Harder’s side were almost two behind five minutes later, as Ruesha Littlejohn fired a dipping effort over the bar as the Blues grew into the game after going in front.
Kate Longhurst was next to try her luck from distance as she looked to get the east Londoners back into the match, her effort sailing just wide of the left-hand post.
Martha Thomas went on a driving run down the right-hand side of the Blues defence, but Hampton was able to palm the cross that was aimed for the head of van Egmond away from danger.
Gilly Flaherty and Claudia Walker clashed heads late into the first half, with a lengthy stoppage whilst both players were treated.
Blues captain Christie Murray could have scored Birmingham’s second with only minutes remaining in the first half, but she sliced her shot wide of the mark, as the whistle blew for half-time.
In bizarre fashion, Birmingham began the second half with only 10 players as Walker was still receiving treatment. West Ham took full advantage, as van Egmond tapped home a loose ball to bring Harder’s side level.
Laura Vetterlein was the next player to be in the wars, as she collided with the perimeter wall, but thankfully she was able to continue.
Thomas continued to look in behind the Birmingham defence and did brilliantly to hold off Mace, before firing a left-footed effort narrowly wide of the post.
The forward was played through again moments later, superbly holding off Georgia Brougham before firing into the hands of Hampton.
The Hammers turned the game on its head with 72 minutes gone as good build-up play ended with the ball at the feet of Svitkova, who rifled the ball into the back of the net via the far post.
The game looked to be over, but there was still time for Mace to pop up at the back post to tap home an unlikely equaliser for Birmingham to break West Ham hearts and share the spoils in East London.
West Ham United Women: Brosnan, Redisch, Fisk, Flaherty ©, Vetterlein, Svitkova, Brynjarsdottir, Longhurst, van Egmond, Dali (Pacheco 90), Thomas (Cissoko 90)
Subs not used: Ramsey, Mustafa, Barker, Denton
Goals: van Egmond 46, Svitkova 73
Booked: Flaherty
Birmingham City Women: Hampton, Mayling, Mace, Murray, Littlejohn, Brougham, Walker, Whipp (Lawley 79), Napier (Green 63), Holloway, Murphy
Subs not used: Whitehouse, McCarron, Kelly
Goals: Murphy 9, Mace 90+4
Booked: Whipp