West Ham United 0-2 Manchester United: Visitors keep up 100% start

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Hannah BlundellImage source, Getty Images
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Manchester United won in London for the first time in seven matches, since they beat West Ham in October 2020

Lucia Garcia and Hannah Blundell scored their first goals for the club as Manchester United kept up their winning start to the season at West Ham United.

Garcia, a summer signing from Athletic Bilbao, latched on to a through ball to open the scoring on 50 minutes.

Blundell made it 2-0 five minutes later as the visitors built on their opening win against Reading.

West Ham had a goal from Lucy Parker ruled out for offside but were always second best.

Manchester United were the better team in the opening half but failed to repeat the goalscoring blitz of their 4-0 victory over Reading - when all four goals were scored before the break.

It took them just five minutes of the second half to open the deadlock, however, as Garcia expertly rounded West Ham goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold before slotting into the empty net.

It looked as if the floodgates could open as the visitors quickly doubled their lead through Blundell.

The left-back, who signed from Chelsea last year, ran on to a cut-back on the edge of the box and placed her effort into the bottom corner.

West Ham struggled to get a grip of the ball, managing just 34% possession throughout the 90 minutes, but were denied by the officials when they did manage an effort on goal.

Parker steered home from eight yards on 66 minutes after the ball deflected into her path but, after initially allowing the goal, referee Emily Heaslip consulted her assistant before ruling it out for offside.

Manchester United continued to push forward after that let-off, with Alessia Russo and captain Katie Zelem having good shots on goal tipped away by Arnold.

It was another worthy win for Marc Skinner's side - their first in seven games in the capital - and it leaves them level with early leaders Arsenal and Aston Villa on six points.

West Ham, meanwhile, missed out on the chance to register two successive victories at the start of a WSL season for the first time following their opening-weekend victory at Everton.

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