Hammers late double stuns Villa

At a glance

  • Aston Villa's Ebony Salmon is denied in a one-on-one with goalkeeper Megan Walsh in the first half

  • Riko Ueki hits the post for West Ham before Leila Wandeler's effort on the rebound is cleared off the line by Oceane Deslandes

  • Ueki eventually gives West Ham the lead with an exceptional lob late on

  • Ueki then flicks it on for Seraina Piubel to make it 2-0 to West Ham

  • PLAYER RATER

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

Japan international Riko Ueki scored in style and added an assist as two late goals earned West Ham victory over Aston Villa.

It gives the Hammers back-to-back victories and clean sheets in the Women's Super League as they finish the season strongly, moving up to 10th place.

Ueki, who was West Ham's standout performer, broke the deadlock late on with an exceptional lob before teeing up substitute Seraina Piubel in stoppage time.

It completed a frustrating afternoon for Villa, who dominated possession and created chances but were punished for not taking them.

Villa should have been in front in the first half when Ebony Salmon raced in behind, but she was denied by goalkeeper Megan Walsh and Lynn Wilms' effort on the rebound was cleared.

The home side continued to pile on pressure in the second half as USA international Jenna Nighswonger impressed and French midfielder Oriane Jean-Francois forced a save out of Walsh.

But Ueki's quality proved the difference between the two sides. She hit the post in the first half, before team-mate Leila Wandeler had an effort cleared off the line.

And when Ueki carved out space to shoot and lobbed goalkeeper Sabrina D'Angelo to give West Ham the lead, it knocked Villa, and Piubel finished off the job.

Ueki shines as West Ham punish Villa

With safety confirmed, West Ham were able to play without pressure following their crucial victory over Liverpool last weekend.

The visitors started off strongly, pressing Villa's makeshift defence and testing midfielder Miri Taylor, who was filling in for the absent Anna Patten.

But Rita Guarino's side were unable to capitalise on the bright start and Villa quickly settled into the game.

It was Villa's first WSL match in five weeks – perhaps an explanation for the slow start – but they were able to create chances and had joy out wide going forward.

They should have taken the lead but Salmon could not get the better of Walsh and Ines Belloumou blocked Wilms' follow-up which was goal-bound.

But West Ham were quick on the break throughout and still carried a threat.

Katie Zelem, making her 150th WSL appearance, tried to find Viviane Asseyi with balls over the top, while Ueki was creative on the left.

Ueki's hard work eventually paid off when she had the audacity to lob D'Angelo and then the composure to flick the ball on to Piubel.

All in all, West Ham will be delighted with their progress in recent weeks. This was a third clean sheet in five matches for them.

Natalia Arroyo's Villa side sit ninth, just a point above West Ham, signifying a disappointing campaign in which inconsistency has proven costly.

Despite having quality and experience in the squad, Villa have underwhelmed and have fallen below expectations – this defeat the latest in a string of poor results.

They have won only one of their past eight games and have two more matches to try to finish the season on a stronger note.

What next for both teams?

Aston Villa welcome Arsenal to Villa Park in their final home game of the season on Saturday, 9 May (12:00 BST).

West Ham's campaign ends at home to league leaders Manchester City on Saturday, 16 May (13:00 BST).

Player of the match

M. Walsh
8.53
32 J. Nighswonger
6.47
9 R. Daly
6.08
1 S. D'Angelo
6.00
21 L. Kendall
5.94
20 K. Hanson
5.78
24 O. Deslandes
5.59
17 E. Salmon
5.53
25 M. Taylor
5.00
38 R. Maltby
5.00
16 N. Maritz
4.94
14 L. Wilms
4.94
6 O. Jean-François
4.94
13 M. Hijikata
4.88
18 G. Mullett
4.83
5 L. Staniforth
4.64
10 Gabi Nunes
4.55
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