West Ham United Women 3-1 Southampton Women: Hammers fight back for League Cup win

West Ham United Women produced a strong second-half comeback to beat Southampton Women 3-1 in the FA Women's League Cup on October 1, 2026. After falling behind early, West Ham responded with patience and pressure, eventually overpowering Southampton with three unanswered goals. The victory gives the Hammers a valuable three points in the group standings and highlights their ability to control a match after a setback.

Southampton Women started brightly and took the lead with a well-executed finish, silencing the home crowd for a period. But West Ham gradually found their footing, equalised before half-time and then dominated after the break. Southampton defended bravely, but the relentless wave of West Ham attacks eventually told.

Match overview

The visitors opened the scoring in the 22nd minute against the run of early possession, converting a quick break with a low finish. West Ham’s response was measured rather than frantic. They kept circulating the ball, pushed their full-backs higher and equalised in the 41st minute through a close-range finish. The second half was largely one-way traffic, with West Ham scoring twice more to seal the win.

Key moments

• 22nd minute: Southampton Women took a surprise lead through Katie Wilkinson, who finished calmly after a fast counter-attack.
• 41st minute: West Ham equalised when Viviane Asseyi pounced on a rebound and smashed the ball into the roof of the net.
• 63rd minute: Riko Ueki put West Ham ahead with a clever near-post finish after a flowing move down the left.
• 79th minute: West Ham sealed the win with a third goal, a header from a corner that sparked celebrations around the ground.

Tactical story

West Ham lined up with a back three that allowed their wing-backs to push high and create width. Southampton initially handled that threat well, defending crosses and looking dangerous on the break. But as West Ham increased the tempo, Southampton’s midfield dropped deeper, creating space for West Ham’s central players to shoot from distance and combine around the box.

The turning point was West Ham’s equaliser just before half-time. It changed the psychological momentum and forced Southampton to come out more after the break. That opened gaps in behind, which West Ham exploited ruthlessly. Southampton’s manager made attacking substitutions, but West Ham’s defensive structure stayed compact and limited clear chances in the final 20 minutes.

Standout players

Viviane Asseyi was central to West Ham’s comeback, scoring the equaliser and linking play intelligently. Riko Ueki’s movement caused constant problems, and the midfield duo controlled the tempo after the interval. Southampton’s Katie Wilkinson took her goal well and worked hard throughout, while their goalkeeper made several saves to keep the score respectable.

What it means

The three points lift West Ham United Women into a promising position in the FA Women's League Cup group. A comeback win can be particularly valuable for team morale, proving that the side can respond when matches do not start as planned. Southampton Women leave with a defeat but also with evidence that their counter-attacking game can trouble strong opponents. They will need to convert more of their promising moments if they are to progress from the group.