Match ends, West Ham United Women 0, Chelsea Women 2.
West Ham WomenWest Ham United Women0Chelsea WomenChelsea Women2
Chelsea returned to the top of the Women's Super League with a battling victory at West Ham.
Aggie Beever-Jones and Erin Cuthbert were on target as the Blues moved back above Manchester City on goal difference with five games remaining.
Chelsea were made to work hard for the points by a spirited West Ham side, who did play like a team sitting second-bottom of the table.
In a pulsating first half the Hammers nearly took the lead after 20 seconds through Viviane Asseyi's header, only for Chelsea to go up the other end and score with their first attack.
Lauren James ran on to a searching through ball into the penalty area and played a neat first-time cutback for Beever-Jones to smash home from close range.
The Hammers felt aggrieved when Honoka Hayashi had the ball in the Chelsea net but was flagged offside, despite replays showing the Japan midfielder was behind the last defender as she ran on to a flicked header.
Cuthbert sealed the points late on with a thumping volley from inside the area.
- Reaction to West Ham v Chelsea and the rest of Sunday's Women's Super League action
- West Ham boss Skinner 'sick' of wrong decisions
Chelsea maintain quadruple bid
Chelsea have now won six successive games across four competitions as they continue their march towards a potential quadruple.
It was also the sixth of eight matches in a hectic March and some players did look a little weary.
But despite not being at their fluid best the WSL champions showed considerable resilience against the Hammers, who held Manchester United to a draw two weeks ago and beat title challengers Arsenal last month.
West Ham can take heart from the display but know they need to turn performances into results if they are to banish any lingering relegation fears, with defeat for bottom side Bristol City earlier on Sunday meaning the gap remains six points.
After going behind early on Kirsty Smith should have equalised for the home side when she met Jessica Ziu's low cross at the far post, but she skewed her effort wide.
Riko Ueki also struck the bar with a wonderful effort from distance, before Asseyi blazed wildly over from inside the area just before half-time.
Chelsea gained more control after the break and came close to doubling their lead when Mayra Ramirez's scrambled finish hit the foot of the post.
They sealed the points in style when substitute Cuthbert chested down a corner at the far post before blasting a volley into the net.
A 3-0 first-leg lead against Ajax in their Champions League quarter-final means manager Emma Hayes may look to rotate her squad for Wednesday's second leg as she bids to navigate a busy schedule.
After Ajax, the Blues take on Arsenal in the Women's League Cup final on 31 March before facing Manchester United in the Women's FA Cup semi-finals next month.
Line-ups
West Ham Women
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 1Arnold
- 3Shimizu
- 5Tysiak
- 14Zadorsky
- 18DentonSubstituted forCissokoat 82'minutes
- 19Hayashi
- 22GorrySubstituted forBergman-Lundinat 21'minutesBooked at 64mins
- 2Smith
- 16ZiuSubstituted forSnerleat 64'minutes
- 20AsseyiSubstituted forHarriesat 82'minutes
- 9Ueki
Substitutes
- 7Bergman-Lundin
- 8Snerle
- 12Harries
- 21Cooke
- 23Cissoko
- 25Walsh
- 30O'Hanlon
- 35Ademiluyi
Chelsea Women
Formation 4-4-2
- 24Hampton
- 12Lawrence
- 7Carter
- 26Buchanan
- 21Charles
- 19Rytting KanerydSubstituted forReitenat 82'minutes
- 28CankovicSubstituted forCuthbertat 55'minutes
- 8LeupolzBooked at 72mins
- 33Beever-JonesSubstituted forRamírezat 63'minutes
- 10JamesSubstituted forKirbyat 63'minutes
- 6NüskenSubstituted forMacárioat 55'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Musovic
- 5Ingle
- 9Macário
- 11Reiten
- 14Kirby
- 15Périsset
- 22Cuthbert
- 35Ramírez
- 39Björn
- Referee:
- Megan Wilson
- Attendance:
- 2,555
Match Stats
Home TeamWest Ham WomenAway TeamChelsea Women
- Possession
- Home40%
- Away60%
- Shots
- Home8
- Away19
- Shots on Target
- Home0
- Away7
- Corners
- Home1
- Away7
- Fouls
- Home12
- Away9
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, West Ham United Women 0, Chelsea Women 2.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea Women) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
Attempt saved. Catarina Macário (Chelsea Women) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Fran Kirby.
Goal!
Goal! West Ham United Women 0, Chelsea Women 2. Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Catarina Macário with a cross following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Chelsea Women. Conceded by Amber Tysiak.
Post update
Offside, Chelsea Women. Fran Kirby is caught offside.
Post update
Attempt missed. Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea Women) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Substitution
Substitution, West Ham United Women. Emma Harries replaces Viviane Asseyi.
Substitution
Substitution, West Ham United Women. Hawa Cissoko replaces Anouk Denton.
Substitution
Substitution, Chelsea Women. Guro Reiten replaces Johanna Rytting Kaneryd.
Post update
Attempt missed. Riko Ueki (West Ham United Women) left footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Emma Snerle following a set piece situation.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Post update
Delay in match because of an injury Mackenzie Arnold (West Ham United Women).
Post update
Foul by Jess Carter (Chelsea Women).
Post update
Viviane Asseyi (West Ham United Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea Women) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Chelsea Women. Conceded by Riko Ueki.
Post update
Melanie Leupolz (Chelsea Women) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Anouk Denton (West Ham United Women).
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