Riko Ueki scored her first goal for West Ham since November 2024
West Ham climbed to eighth in the Women's Super League with a hard-fought win against fifth-placed Brighton.
Second-half goals from Riko Ueki and Viviane Asseyi helped Rehanne Skinner's side post their second win in three matches and move eight points clear of bottom side Crystal Palace.
In a frenetic start at Chigwell Construction Stadium, Hammers goalkeeper Kinga Szemik denied Madison Haley from close range, before Ueki tested Melina Loeck at the other end.
Japan forward Ueki forced another save out of Loeck in the 11th minute, but this time Shekiera Martinez was on hand to tap in for her second Hammers goal in four appearances this season.
Brighton were back level three minutes later, though, as Jelena Cankovic and Rachel McLauchlan combined before the Scot's low cross was turned home by Nikita Parris for her fifth of the season.
The hosts, however, finished the half strongly as Manuela Pavi, restored to the starting line-up by Skinner, hit the woodwork after capitalising on a wayward backpass from Caitlin Hayes.
Another defensive mix-up, this time from the Seagulls, gave West Ham the lead in the 64th minute as Ueki intercepted Guro Bergsvand's pass and slotted past Loeck.
The victory was sealed four minutes later as Asseyi was brought down in the box by McLauchlan and the French forward made no mistake from the penalty spot.
West Ham are now only four points behind Brighton with eight games left of the season.
Szemik wins battle of the goalkeepers
Kinga Szemik kept out four of Brighton's five shots on target
With Everton losing to leaders Chelsea earlier, West Ham had the chance to leapfrog the Toffees in the WSL standings by defeating Brighton.
And it was Szemik, 27, who helped the Hammers get the crucial victory with an impressive display between the sticks.
With the score at 1-1, the Pole denied Bergsvand with a brilliant reflex save before acrobatically tipping behind Cankovic's fierce strike from inside the box.
She also kept out a vicious half-volley from Kiko Seike 12 minutes into the second period, and those interventions proved decisive as West Ham went on to secure the three points with a quick-fire double.
While Skinner's side can look up after back-to-back wins at home, Brighton have failed to win any of their past six league fixtures.
In fact, they have not won since beating the Hammers 3-2 in November, with the only positives for head coach Dario Vidosic being Fran Kirby's first appearance since that win and Parris marking her call-up to the England squad with another goal.
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