Tottenham v West Ham WSL match highlights
At a glance
Martin Ho makes a winning start as Tottenham manager
Bethany England scores the winner from the penalty spot
West Ham's best chance falls for Shekiera Martinez in first half
Hammers goalkeeper Kinga Szemik injured after colliding with post
Martin Ho made a winning start to life as Tottenham head coach as they narrowly beat West Ham in their Women's Super League opener.
Former Brann manager Ho, who succeeded Robert Vilahamn at Spurs, saw his side fail to register a single shot on target from open play.
But Eveliina Summanen drew a foul from Hammers captain Katrina Gorry and won a late penalty from which Spurs captain Bethany England struck the winning goal with four minutes remaining.
However, the game in Leyton had offered little in the way of excitement up until then, with both sides struggling to click in attack.
It wasn't until the 41st minute that the game's first shot on target as Viviane Asseyi's corner created a pinball inside the box before Spurs goalkeeper Lize Kop denied the dangerous Shekiera Martinez.
Olivia Holdt, who was Spurs' most impressive player in the half, then overpowered Hammers captain Gorry on the right and crossed in to England, who laid it off for Jessica Naz to fire over from the edge of the box.
The Hammers began the second half on the front foot with Seraina Piubel arriving to meet Asseyi's cross but failing to hit the target from close range.
They then lost keeper Kinga Szemik to an injury. The Poland international had to be assisted back to the dressing room by medical staff after colliding with the post while attempting to palm away a cross from Tottenham veteran Drew Spence.
Megan Walsh, who took Szemik's place, was beaten by England from the spot as Ho guided Spurs to their first win in 11 league fixtures.
Analysis: Three points for Spurs but Ho has work to do
Bethany England's penalty gave Tottenham a winning start in the Women's Super League
Tottenham's disappointing 11th-place finish last season led to a change in the dugout as Ho was brought in for his first head coach assignment in English football.
Previously an assistant at Everton and Manchester United, the 35-year-old Liverpudlian led Brann to the quarter-finals of the 2023-24 Champions League and the league runners-up spot in 2024.
Having taken over a Spurs side who failed to win any of their final 10 WSL fixtures last season and with only two new players added to the squad over the summer, Ho will be fully aware of the challenge ahead.
But despite being second best, they achieved the boost of a win against West Ham, who finished three points above them in 2024-25.
Among the positives for Ho was the performance of 19-year-old Toko Koga in central defence.
Koga, who joined from Feyenoord as one of Tottenham's two summer signings, had a trial by fire against an attack led by Martinez, who scored 10 goals for the Hammers in only 12 WSL appearances last season.
The defender made crucial interventions to keep West Ham at bay, with the visitors attempting 10 shots compared to Tottenham's five, and looked at ease with the ball at her feet as the hosts tried to build from the back.
However, Ho faces plenty of work to get his Spurs attack firing, with tougher tests against Everton and Manchester City to come later this month.
Meanwhile, West Ham and Skinner may feel a draw would have been a fair result.
Their attacking unit of Martinez, Piubel, Asseyi and Riko Ueki caused plenty of problems for the hosts but failed to trouble Spurs keeper Kop much, except for Martinez's late first-half effort.
However, the Hammers manager looks to have a squad to better last season's ninth-place finish, with five new signings - Ines Belloumou, Sarah Brasero, Ffion Morgan, Leila Wandeler and Selin Cemal - on their bench in the opener.
What's next for these teams?
A trip to Merseyside awaits Tottenham next as they face Everton at Goodison Park in their second WSL outing on Sunday, 14 September (14:30 BST).
West Ham, meanwhile, will be involved in another London derby on Friday, 12 September (19:30) as European champions Arsenal visit Dagenham.
Where next?
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