A hard-fought West Ham victory was overshadowed by two red cards in the closing stages as the game descended into chaos. Altercations on and off the pitch led to the visitors’ Hawa Cissoko being sent off for violent conduct and their manager, Paul Konchesky, also being dismissed for his part in a touchline melee.
Tensions had been brewing throughout as the visitors resisted wave after wave of Aston Villa attacks, having raced into an early two-goal lead. The ill-feeling finally erupted in the 91st minute as Sarah Mayling and Cissoko came together in a shoving match. The red mist descended over the French defender as she struck Mayling around the face, leaving the referee, Cheryl Foster, with no choice but to dismiss her. The arguments spread to the dugouts as Mayling was involved in a further confrontation with Villa’s backroom staff and the flashpoint ended with Konchesky also being sent down the tunnel.
