Manchester United have continued their winning streak at Old Trafford with a 4-0 victory over a well-drilled West Ham United side this evening.
Two teams with differing ambitions went head-to-head at ‘The Theatre of Dreams’. Manchester United are battling for a first Barclays Women’s Super League title and European qualification while West Ham United still have ambitions of recording a top half of the table finish.
In a goalless first half, West Ham United regularly relinquished possession but they frustrated the home side through some resolute and disciplined defending. As for Manchester United, it was a half bereft of chances other than a Leah Galton header that was straight at Mackenzie Arnold in the West Ham United goal.
Something needed to change in the second half if The Red Devils were going to continue their title charge and it took a piece of brilliance from Alessia Russo to finally unpick the West Ham United defence. The England international bulldozed her way into the area before a delightful cut-back bamboozled defender Hawa Cissoko. The West Ham United centre-back was having a superb game up until that point but she could only take Russo’s legs from under her, giving the referee no option other than to point to the penalty spot. Captain Katie Zelem stepped up and drilled the ball into the roof of the net to give her side the lead early in the second period.
The hosts then went two goals to the good when substitute Lucía García made an immediate impact. Manchester United snatched the ball from West Ham United in their defensive third through Ella Toone but there was still a lot of work for the young Lioness to do. She was able to produce a delightfully floated ball over the top for García who was in acres of space. Her side-footed shot crept into the bottom corner of Arnold’s net.
Things continued to get better for Manchester United as Toone played through Ona Batlle who unselfishly squared the ball for Hayley Ladd. She kept her composure to turn the ball onto her left foot and pass it behind the outstretched Arnold to make it 3-0.
Marc Skinner’s side then rounded off the scoring in second half stoppage time when Arnold superbly saved a drilled Martha Thomas shot but she could only palm the ball into the path of García who tapped her shot into an unguarded net.
The 4-0 scoreline flattered the home side who were far from at their dynamic best but if The Red Devils are able to win as comfortably as they did today without firing on all cylinders, then they will still very much fancy their chances of securing a top three finish and maybe more.
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