Man City 0-2 West Ham: Player ratings as Hammers spring WSL shock

West Ham shocked Manchester City in the WSL on Sunday afternoon, enjoying a surprise 2-0 win in Manchester and condemning the hosts to a fourth successive defeat in all competitions.

City dominated the ball throughout the 90 minutes and created plenty of chances. But it was Dagny Brynjarsdottir’s crucial header for West Ham in the first half that gave the visitors an unexpected lead something to hold on to…and they did.

The hosts huffed and puffed, even having the ball in the net at one stage – only for Ellen White to have strayed offside in the build up – and forced Hammers stopper Mackenzie Arnold into a number of saves in either half. Laura Coombs also hit the post for City from distance.

But as the pressure on the West Ham goal built in stoppage, any chance of a late equaliser were dashed when Yui Hasegawa, who had assisted Brynjarsdottir in the first half, capitalised on a short back-pass from City left-back Demi Stokes and lobbed a back pedalling Karima Taeib.

West Ham move up to fourth with the win, their second in the WSL this season, only two points behind champions Chelsea. An injury-plagued City, meanwhile, sit ninth, having already lost three times as many WSL games four games into this season than in the whole of last season.

Man City player ratings

1. Goalkeeper & defenders

Karima Taieb (GK) - 5/10 - Arguably beaten a little too easily at her near post in the first half. Stood little chance with the second goal.

Janine Beckie (RB) - 5/10 - Playing out of position and it showed when she lacked positional awareness for the breakthrough goal.

Jill Scott (CB) - 6/10 - Looked relatively at ease in an unnatural possession because West Ham rarely provided a direct threat.

Alex Greenwood (CB) - 6/10 - Good in possession as always.

Demi Stokes (LB) - 5/10 - A mistake gifted West Ham their second goal, killing any chance of a late City equaliser.

2. Midfielders

Filippa Angeldal (CM) - 5/10 - More effective after the break.

Keira Walsh (CM) - 6/10 - Helped City dominate the ball throughout the first half but, having suffered with injury recently, was withdrawn at half-time.

Caroline Weir (CM) - 5/10 - Limited in her ability to pass her way through the resilient Hammers.

3. Forwards

Jess Park (RW) - 5/10 - Quiet afternoon for the youngster.

Ellen White (ST) - 6/10 - Persistent in her determination to get onto the scoresheet. Had the ball in the net but it was offside.

Lauren Hemp (LW) - 7/10 - Typically a creative spark for City.

4. Substitutes

Laura Coombs (CM) - 6/10 - Almost cost a goal when she cheaply gave the ball away in a bad position. Hit the post from distance late on.

Georgia Stanway (CM) - 5/10 - Couldn't make enough of a difference.

Khadija Shaw (ST) - 6/10 - Gave West Ham something to think about and forced a late save after a driving run.

West Ham player ratings

5. Goalkeeper & defenders

Mackenzie Arnold (GK) - 8/10 - Made a number of saves, particularly in the closing stages of the either half. Confident coming to punch crosses.

Hawa Cissoko (CB) - 7/10 - No nonsense defending did the job.

Gilly Flaherty (CB) - 6/10 - Let off the hook with a mistake that led to a CIty chance in the first half. Defended well by example after that.

Kate Longhurst (CB) - 7/10 - Tenacious and resolute in her defending.

6. Midfielders

Katerina Svitkova (RWB) - 7/10 - Good display on her first start since April.

Abbey-Leigh Stringer (CM) - 6/10 - Had to play a lot of the game without the ball.

Dagny Brynjarsdottir (CM) - 7/10 - Drifted into the box on multiple occasions and it was that which gave her the first half goal.

Zaneta Wyne (LWB) - 6/10 - Didn't have much opportunity to get forward but was rarely in too much trouble defensively.

7. Forwards

Tameka Yallop (RW) - 7/10 - Forced an important save from Taeib early in the second half and narrowly missed with a headed chance.

Claudia Walker (ST) - 6/10 - Put City defenders under pressure on the ball. Caught some glimpses of goal in the first half but faded after the interval.

Yui Hasegawa (LW) - 8/10 - A goal and assist, both of the highest quality, marked an excellent afternoon.

8. Substitutes

Adriana Leon (ST) - 6/10 - Got away with cheaply losing possession when the subsequent City goal was ruled out for offside. Defended from the front.

Lucy Parker (RWB) - 6/10 - Slotted in on the right flank.

Melisa Filis (CM) - N/A

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