West Ham claimed their first London derby away win over Tottenham Hotspur and a fifth league win of the season with a 2-0 victory at Brisbane Road as second-half goals from Dagny Brynjarsdóttir and Hawa Cissoko secured the points.
It was a classic Jekyll and Hyde performance from the Irons, whose impressive second-half display fired them to fifth in the WSL and just four points behind fourth-placed Manchester City before the winter break.
Despite a first-half penalty miss from Brynjarsdóttir, the Irons flipped the script in the second half, with the Iceland international making good on a loose ball three minutes into the half and after some obdurate defending, Cissoko's sublime chip over keeper Rebecca Spencer in the 85th minute sent the travelling West Ham contingent into a frenzy to cap off a clinical half.
For Spurs, it’s the goals that continue to prove the biggest challenge this season as Rehanne Skinner’s side found themselves for the first time in their Barclays WSL history three matches on the spin without finding the back of the net despite a slew of first-half chances. The loss leaves them with their fifth league defeat of the season.
A wiry opening gave way to a mostly Spurs-filled first-half, but as has become customary for the north London club, the age-old issue of scoring reared its head.
An aggressive press gave way to an onslaught of half-decent opportunities through Drew Spence, Eveliina Summanen, Rosella Ayane and Chioma Ubogagu in the first 45 minutes but they all lacked any finishing polish to seal off their efforts.
Ayane, keeping her starting spot after an underwhelming first start of the season against Chelsea, brightly led the line for Spurs but it was Summanen dictating proceedings from deep that made it near impossible for West Ham to secure a foothold in the match.
And as Spurs cranked up the pressure, the Irons’ defence could find themselves largely indebted to goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold, who did well to command her box and fend off Spurs’ incessant attempts, including a cat-like save off the line before the half-hour mark from Molly Bartrip’s corner.
Spurs were nearly forced to answer for their recklessness just before the interval as Kerys Harrop was hustled by Kate Longhurst in her own half before bringing the reinstated midfielder down in the area for a penalty.
The mental lapse from Harrop threatened to upturn a match that felt firmly within Spurs’ grasp but Brynjarsdóttir, who had failed to impart much of an impact in the opening proceedings, failed to convert from the spot.
The let off for Spurs was only fleeting, however, as Brynjarsdóttir in a way of penance coolly fired West Ham in front three minutes into the second-half after latching onto a loose ball in the area.
And the second-half belonged to the Irons, whose inspired introduction of Lisa Evans for the anonymous Honoka Hayashi and a shift in formation to a back four proved game changing as Irons dominated proceedings.
With less than 20 minutes to play, Spurs – now stacked with Ashleigh Neville and Nikola Karczewska in place of Ayane and Harrop – piled on the pressure but they failed to capitalise on their chances as West Ham’s defence continued to thwart them.
And once again, the Irons punished their hosts with a well-executed counter as Viviane Asseyi charged through midfield before laying off beautifully to a rampaging Cissoko, who coolly chipped Spencer to put the game to bed.
It was the least of just rewards for Cissoko, making her first start since her five-match ban and doing so with assurance.
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