Howard grabs a point for the Foxes against the Hammers
THE IRONS
SOPHIE Howard rescued a point for Leicester City against second bottom West Ham in the Women’s Super League.
The Irons had started brightly when Riko Ueki sent a low drive past City keeper Janina Leitzig after being slipped in by Japanese compatriot Honoka Hayashi to give the hosts a 13th minute lead.
But City fought back and equalised in the 36th minute when Howard nodded in a powerful header from a Jutta Rantala corner.
Both sides showed promise in an open game, but neither were able to find the cutting edge on the counterattack.
Rantala was Leicester’s main catalyst going forward as she spotted chances to open gaps in the West Ham defence and made creative clever runs, but her efforts weren’t enough to give the Foxes victory.
West Ham nearly retook the lead in the second half when Viviane
Asseyi nodded a Jessica Ziu delivery just wide of the post, but it was the Foxes who looked the most likely to grab a winner.
Janice Cayman bundled a loose ball over the line, but the goal was disallowed as Lena Petermann had fouled Hayashi in the build-up.
Saori Takarada then had a closerange volley expertly parried away by West Ham goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold, while Yuka Momiki also had an effort palmed clear by Arnold.
The draw means City are winless in seven WSL matches and remain 10th in the league, three points ahead of their hosts.
Elsewhere, the race for the WSL title was blown back open after Arsenal substitute Stina Blackstenius scored two late goals to beat leaders Manchester City 2-1.
Liverpool leapfrogged Manchester United to rise to fourth with a hardfought 1-0 victory in their final game at Prenton Park.
IN SEVEN WSL MATCHES BUT CAME CLOSE TO GETTING ALL THE POINTS AT HOME OF