West Ham United women's team 5-0 Southampton
Subway® Women's League Cup Group C, Chigwell Construction Stadium, Wednesday 12 November 2025, 7pm GMT
A ruthless West Ham United women’s team defeated Southampton 5-0 in the Subway® Women's League Cup on Wednesday evening to strengthen our position at the top of Group C.
After a goalless first half, the Hammers ran riot in the second, as Viviane Asseyi and Shekiera Martinez both bagged braces, while Ffion Morgan also got in on the act in a breathless evening in front of goal.
All three goalscorers came off the bench to put the Saints to the sword and create a terrific atmosphere inside Chigwell Construction Stadium come full-time.
The victory sees us remain at the top of the standings, three points clear of Charlton Athletic with one game to play.
It was the Saints who crafted the first attack of the game, with Abbie Ferguson finding space down the left to drive forward and shoot, however, her curling effort was straight at Megan Walsh.
But for the next 30 minutes, our captain watched the Hammers assert control in east London. Both Manuela Paví and Yu Endo forced early saves out of Saints shot-stopper Fran Stenson, while Riko Ueki dragged a shot wide of the far post from the right corner of the box.
Endo’s chance came from a neat interchange involving Sarah Brasero and Anna Csiki, and another well-weighted throughball from Halle Houssein sent our No2 charging in behind, but her cross was blocked behind for a corner that the visitors eventually cleared.
Defender Eva Nyström then had a pair of chances in quick succession. Both headed opportunities, she guided the first one over the bar before forcing Stenson into making a reflex tip over the bar after a pinpoint cross from Inès Belloumou.
Hammers goalkeeper Walsh had to be called into action at the end of the first half, making smart saves to deny Aimee Palmer and then Stenson right on the whistle.
Rehanne Skinner made a double change at the break as Endo and Ueki made way for Anouk Denton and Asseyi, and the substitutes caused havoc inside the opening exchanges of the second half.
First the France international drove down the left with pace and trickery, putting a low cross to the front post that Paví could only get a deft touch on. Then it was Denton’s turn to get to the byline and she flashed a venomous ball across goal that no one in Claret and Blue could get a touch on.
We shortly turned to the bench again, sending on Martinez for Nyström. The Germany U23 international won us a corner down the right almost instantly, and it was from the resulting set-piece that we found the breakthrough. Hanshaw whipped in a pinpoint delivery and there was Asseyi to flick the ball beyond Stenson in the Southampton goal.
It was not long before Martinez got on the scoresheet though. She flicked on a long throw from Belloumou into Denton’s path. The Young Lioness scrambled for the ball in the area and it eventually landed at the feet of Martinez, who rifled home into the top-right corner.
The goals continued to flow in east London and another substitute, Morgan, was soon in on the act. Martinez was again involved, slaloming her way down the left before producing a cross that was cleared only as far as the Wales international, who tucked home.
The fourth official held up nine minutes of added time at the end of the second period, and the Hammers only saw time to add to our tally. Substitute Shelina Zadorsky sent a long ball over the top to Asseyi. She took one touch with her chest, set herself and lobbed Stenson with a terrific volley.
After our No20 netted her second, three minutes later, Martinez got hers too, ghosting in at the front post to turn Morgan’s cross into the top-right corner, and cap off a memorable night in east London.
West Ham United: Walsh ©, Endo (Denton HT), Cemal (Zadorsky 82), Nyström (Martinez 60), Hanshaw, Belloumou, Houssein, Csiki, Brasero, Ueki (Asseyi HT), Paví (Morgan 76)
Subs not used: O'Hanlon (GK), Siren, Tysiak, Gorry
Goals: Asseyi 64, 90+1, Martinez 78, 90+4, Morgan 84
Booked: Asseyi
Southampton: Stenson, Mott, Akpan, Goddard, Brazil (McAlonie HT), Ferguson, Edwards (Collett 68), Hack, Primus © (Bashford HT), Watts (Tucker 68), Palmer (Roberts HT)
Subs not used: Prout (GK), Bourne, Peplow, Simpson
Referee: Megan Wilson
Attendance: TBC
