Match report: Aston Villa Women 1 Tottenham Hotspur Women 2

13 December 2021

3 Min Read

13 December 2021

Spurs women now up to third in WSL
By Haran Naresh

Tottenham Hotspur Women secured a comeback victory over Aston Villa Women which takes them to third in the Women’s Super League.

The visitors fell behind to a strike from Remi Allen but turned the game around through a penalty from Kyah Simon and a second-half goal by Rachel Williams.

Spurs struggled to get a foothold in the game early on. Villa’s pressing was causing the visitors to give the ball away regularly.

Tottenham missed a glorious opportunity to take the lead with eight minutes on the clock. Jessica Naz played a through ball to Rachel Williams who only had the goalkeeper to beat but could only send her chip wide.

At the other end, a ball in behind the Spurs defence found Emily Gielnik, who directed a shot from a tight angle just off target.

The home side took the lead in the 19 th minute. Alisha Lehmann put a cross into the box from which Remi Allen poked home from close range.

Molly Bartrip took a speculative effort from a long way out which flew well wide.

Spurs equalised with a penalty with 28 minutes gone. Meaghan Sargeant brought down Ria Percival in the box and the referee pointed to the spot.

Kyah Simon made no mistake with the spot-kick, putting her effort low into the corner.

Tottenham were growing in confidence and began to take control.

Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah took a quick-free kick which forced Tinja-Riikka Korpela to push the ball behind.

The away team almost gifted Villa a goal in the 56 th minute. The Tottenham defence allowed the ball to bounce into the box from a goal-kick and Gielnik almost pounced but Korpela quickly came off her line to collect.

Ashleigh Neville delivered a cross into the area which forced Villa goalkeeper Hannah Hampton to backpedal before collecting.

Spurs took the lead in the 68 th minute with a well-worked counter-attack. Tottenham won the ball back and Naz drove forward before playing in Williams in the area who slotted home.

At this stage, Villa were struggling to deal with the constant Tottenham pressure. Hampton fumbled a cross but Sargeant was there to clear.

Naz took a shot from 35 yards out which was easily saved by Hampton.

Villa came very close to equalising with 80 minutes on the clock. A free-kick was spilled by Korpela and Sargeant bundled the ball towards goal but Bartrip got back to clear off the line. The Villa players claimed that the ball had crossed the line but their appeals were dismissed by the referee.

Replays showed that the ball may have crossed the line but with the lack of goal-line technology in the WSL, this was not conclusive.

Williams laid the ball off to Naz and she directed her effort straight at Hampton.

Tottenham Hotspur Women were made to work hard for the victory against a side who are third from bottom in the WSL.

Spurs were not at their best but will be pleased that they still managed to take home all three points.

Tottenham Hotspur Women visit Coventry United Ladies in the Continental League Cup on Wednesday.

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