Chelsea Women vs West Ham United Women. Women's Super League.
Kingsmeadow StadiumAttendance3,313.
Report and free match highlights from the Barclays WSL match between Chelsea and West Ham at Kingsmeadow as a goal from Sam Kerr on her first start of the season and a late strike from Erin Cuthbert sent Emma Hayes' Blues to the top of the league
Sunday 15 October 2023 07:25, UK
Sam Kerr marked her first start of the 2023/24 WSL season by scoring the first goal in Chelsea's 2-0 win over West Ham at Kingsmeadow on Saturday evening.
The Australian forward - who was sidelined with a calf injury for much of her home World Cup in the summer - netted with a bullet header after 36 minutes, having earlier seen a strike ruled out for offside.
West Ham competed well and impressed in periods throughout the game, yet they were missing a clinical touch, with only two of their 14 attempts on goal hitting the target.
And the hosts sealed the derby win in the 90th minute, when substitute Erin Cuthbert danced her way through the box and coolly sidefooted home.
Emma Hayes' Blues move top of the Barclays WSL after continuing their unbeaten start, while the Hammers are eighth with three points from their first three league games of the season.
West Ham, looking sharp on the counter, mustered up a handful of early chances, with Emma Harries' curling effort from 18 yards that whistled just over the pick of the bunch. They had never beaten the Blues in the WSL, so if they wanted to change that trend, they knew the first goal would be key.
Chelsea did have the ball in the net with 12 minutes gone, when Kerr slammed in after Sophie Ingle had seen a shot blocked, albeit the Australian had done so from an offside position, which saw the strike swiftly ruled out.
Either side of the disallowed goal, Kerr connected with crosses from Lauren James on the right and glanced wide, seemingly shaking off a touch of understandable rust. There was no way she would be kept quiet for the entirety, though, and when Charles clipped the ball in from the opposite flank, the Australian powered a header home.
The Hammers had never been out of the game in the first half, but they really started to try and force the issue at the start of the second. During a period of particularly intense pressure, Zecira Musovic had to stay laser-focused to tip Kirsty Smith's overhead effort over the bar.
It proved to be a flash in the pan, though. As Chelsea started to turn the screw, James somehow dragged a shot across the face of goal, before Mackenzie Arnold brilliantly pushed a deflected cross behind and Sjoeke Nusken sent a wayward volley over.
They did finally double their advantage, though, when Cuthbert - who was presented with a commemorative shirt by Hayes prior to kick-off, after making her 200th appearance for the club last time out - strolled through the area, exchanged passes with Jessie Fleming and rolled in.
Chelsea boss Emma Hayes:
"In the first half we struggled to break them down, and create enough clear-cut chances. Credit to them in the way they defended. Once we made changes in the second half, everything went up a step. The last 25, 30 minutes is something for us to build on. We deserved the second goal, in the end.
"If Lauren had scored one of her two big chances earlier, it might not have taken so long. Everyone came on from the bench and was really, really good.
"Managers are always seeking perfection. Is it progress? Yeah, it's progress. That's all we want to see. I know we will improve, because of the training environment. They're a top-level group. I'm very pleased with how we reacted. This is a top-level league, there's top teams in it. West Ham have certainly improved from last year, and it's a much stronger league than last year."
West Ham boss Rehanne Skinner:
"When you come away from Chelsea disappointed not to get any points based on how we started the game and the chances we had in the first half, it says a lot. It was another fantastic performance, we carried on doing the things we've been working really hard on, and we caused a lot of problems at times. I'm really proud of the players for everything they put in.
"Chelsea press quite high so when you recognise the right moments for that, there's opportunities to regain and exploit gaps in between units available to you. We had a couple of opportunities from counter-attacks, but I'm also pleased with the opportunities we created from open play as well. That's a big improvement against a top-four or champions team.
"If players want to learn, improve their mindset and work with you, you've got a fantastic chance of improving the whole club and the way we're playing. Testament to the players, they've been on it from the moment I walked through the door. Long may it continue, we're seeing the benefits of it and we'll win games because of the way we're playing - and that's important."
Chelsea return to Kingsmeadow next weekend to host Brighton on Sunday October 22; kick-off 2pm.
West Ham also play next on Sunday October 22 as they take on Liverpool at home; kick-off 3pm.
