Manchester City moved top of the Women’s Super League as they cruised past West Ham to win their 13th league game in a row.
City enjoyed a dream start as they surged into a two-goal lead after just three minutes, with Leila Ouahabi turning a Jess Park cut-back past Mackenzie Arnold, before Khadija Shaw fired in on the half-volley after chesting down a Lauren Hemp delivery.
The Jamaican striker headed home her second from Hemp cross in the 24th minute but her impressive first half was soured when she had to be substituted at the break.
Shaw spent the second half sitting on the bench wearing a protective boot.
January signing Laura Blindkilde Brown scored her first goal for City when she turned home a loose ball with nine minutes left before Park scored from the edge of the box to round off a dominant performance.
Victory means City sit three points ahead of Chelsea having played a game more and will likely remain at the top until their rivals – who have had two games rearranged due to their Champions League participation – complete their games in hand.
Impressive start guides City to victory
Their early lead gave City the freedom to play creative football in the final third and they were relentless in trying cut through the West Ham defence.
Such was the space they were given that Shaw attempted backheels in the West Ham box, Hemp produced a Cruyff turn and others tried efforts from distance.
Park, who was instrumental in the build-up to the first goal and was rewarded with her side’s fifth, excelled with the freedom she was given as she charged at defenders and carved out openings with her talented dribbling.
On the other wing, Hemp grasped the chance to run through the West Ham defence as City’s passing play stretched their back line.
City sustained their pressure as they enjoyed most of the possession and searched for more goals to aid them in their quest to beat Chelsea’s goal difference at the top of the table.
If both City and Chelsea win their remaining games then the title race will come down to goal difference – and City’s is now three better, albeit having played an extra match.
City’s continual attacking gave West Ham chances to try and dent the scoreline – with Riko Ueki and Viviane Asseyi both hitting the woodwork – but mounting a comeback was always unlikely.
Victory for West Ham would have secured top-flight safety, but it is still likely only a matter of time until they mathematically avoid the drop as they are seven points ahead of bottom club Bristol City.
Line-ups
Man City Women
Formation 4-3-3
- 35Keating
- 4Aleixandri
- 33Kennedy
- 5GreenwoodBooked at 74mins
- 15Ouahabi
- 16Park
- 25Hasegawa
- 7CoombsSubstituted forBlindkilde Brownat 64′minutes
- 8Fowler
- 21ShawSubstituted forKellyat 45′minutes
- 11Hemp
Substitutes
- 3Stokes
- 6Houghton
- 9Kelly
- 12Angeldahl
- 14Morgan
- 17Pritchard
- 19Blindkilde Brown
- 30Mace
- 40Startup
West Ham Women
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 1Arnold
- 18DentonSubstituted forCookeat 76′minutes
- 5Tysiak
- 14Zadorsky
- 23CissokoBooked at 84mins
- 3ShimizuBooked at 59mins
- 19HayashiSubstituted forBergman-Lundinat 83′minutes
- 2Smith
- 16ZiuSubstituted forHarriesat 68′minutes
- 20Asseyi
- 9Ueki
Substitutes
- 7Bergman-Lundin
- 8Snerle
- 12Harries
- 21Cooke
- 25Walsh
- 30O’Hanlon
- 35Ademiluyi
Live Text
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Second Half ends, Manchester City Women 5, West Ham United Women 0.
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Corner, Manchester City Women. Conceded by Risa Shimizu.
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Attempt missed. Laia Aleixandri (Manchester City Women) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high following a corner.
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Corner, Manchester City Women. Conceded by Mackenzie Arnold.
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Attempt saved. Chloe Kelly (Manchester City Women) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Laia Aleixandri.
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Corner, Manchester City Women. Conceded by Mackenzie Arnold.
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Attempt saved. Jessica Park (Manchester City Women) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Laia Aleixandri.
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Laura Blindkilde Brown (Manchester City Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Risa Shimizu (West Ham United Women).
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Offside, West Ham United Women. Emma Harries is caught offside.
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Attempt blocked. Viviane Asseyi (West Ham United Women) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Emma Harries with a cross.
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Goal! Manchester City Women 5, West Ham United Women 0. Jessica Park (Manchester City Women) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner.
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Alex Greenwood (Manchester City Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Emma Harries (West Ham United Women).
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Hawa Cissoko (West Ham United Women) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Laura Blindkilde Brown (Manchester City Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Hawa Cissoko (West Ham United Women).
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Substitution, West Ham United Women. Marika Bergman-Lundin replaces Honoka Hayashi.
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Goal! Manchester City Women 4, West Ham United Women 0. Laura Blindkilde Brown (Manchester City Women) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the top left corner.
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Attempt saved. Mary Fowler (Manchester City Women) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Jessica Park.
