Spurs were beaten 5-1 by Man City at Brisbane Road on Friday night as the away side moved level on points at the top of the WSL table.
The bright spark in an otherwise lifeless close season last term for Spurs came when they welcomed Manchester City to Brisbane Road. Despite a 2-1 defeat they demonstrated heart, and the inclusion of Charlie Grant was key to that performance. So it was not surprising to see the Australian returned to the team sheet for the first time this season replacing Josefine Rybrink.
The home side were hoping to build on an encouraging start to the season which saw them start the night three points clear of their opponents. Victory over Everton at Goodison Park last Sunday had followed a 1-0 win over West Ham on the opening weekend.
Manchester City made one change from the side that completed a comeback victory over Brighton last Friday night. Iman Beney was dropped to the bench as The Halfway Line’s player of the match in this fixture last season Aoba Fujino came into the starting side. Grace Clinton made the bench for the first time for the team from the blue side of Manchester.
The Line ups
TOT: Kop; Grant, Koga, Hunt, Nildén; Summanen, Spence, Ahtinen; Naz, Tandberg, England
MCI: Keating; Casparij, Greenwood, Prior, Ouahabi; Hasegawa Blindkilde Brown; Fujino, Miedema, Hemp; Shaw
The Action
On a more humid night than one would expect for a late September evening in Leyton, Spurs kicked off against Man City as a team brimming with confidence. It was a confidence the travelling side were keen to puncture, playing in all black Manchester City pressed high and immediately drew a mistake from the home side.
A miscued pass from Lize Kop left Tōko Koga in an awkward position with the Japanese defender only able to play the ball out for a throw. Spurs did well to find a rhythm after that shaky opening. Khiara Keating was made to sweat at the other end when Cathinka Tandberg blocked her clearance before the ten minute mark, the ricochet bounced narrowly wide.
Both sides were missing a yard or two when trying to find a team mate. Tandberg, not content with just one goal of the season contender attempted a bicycle kick after good work on the wing involving Jess Naz. Keating was equal to the effort. Just as Spurs had seemingly settled Bunny Shaw cushioned a lofted ball down beautifully for Aoba Fujino. The Japanese winger took a touch to steady herself before finding the bottom corner with unerring accuracy.
Manchester City looked to double their advantage shortly after with Kerolin proving a nuisance to the Spurs defence. The Brazilian had been introduced after Lauren Hemp had to be withdrawn through injury. Kerolin’s wonderful feet dazzled on the left, her cut back found Shaw in the box whose effort was smartly blocked. From the resulting corner Shaw was denied again this time magnificently by Lize Kop from point blank range. Yet it was clear the direction the momentum was flowing.
Manchester City would double their lead when a simple corner to the near post from Alex Greenwood was nodded home by Vivianne Miedema. Soon after it was three, as Kerolin dribbled into the box with goalscoring intent, her deflected shot bounced fortuitously for Kersten Casparaij. The Dutch full back was rewarded for her gamble nodding home from point blank range.
Down but not out, this represented the biggest challenge of Martin Ho’s as yet young stint as Spurs head coach. The home side appeared energised after the break, looking to pin back City with a high press. Any momentum Spurs had after half time threatened to dissipate when Fujino stole into the box 10 minutes into the half. The covering Clare Hunt completely mistimed her challenge and fouled the winger in the box. Shaw’s penalty was then saved by Kop diving brilliantly to her left.
Manchester City then gave a debut to their statement signing Grace Clinton, who has so excelled for the home side just a few seasons ago. Manchester City created opportunities to extend their lead. Shaw, Miedema and Kerolin all threatened the Spurs goal but the home side survived until the 80th minute when the inevitable happened.
Kerolin, running at the Spurs defence with impunity pulled the ball back to Clinton who placed the ball past Kop in the Spurs goal, 4-0. Spurs came desperately close to pulling one back shortly after but the ball just wouldn’t sit up for them when the goal was at their mercy. They would be rewarded for their endeavour however as Olivia Holdt, who had been bright since coming on, fired an unstoppable shot past Keating. City unsatisfied with having conceded last ensured their margin of victory was four as Laura Coombs stole in for a fifth for City with only seconds remaining.
Tottenham Hotspur Player Ratings
GK: Lize Kop – 7/10 – Kop was under pressure early but smartly played it safe when the ball came to feet. Brilliantly saved Shaw’s penalty, Kop made a smart save from Miedema later, the deflected effort was harder than it looked.
RB: Charlie Grant – 5/10 – Started well but struggled with the inventive endeavour that Kerolin provided on her wing. Kerolin went past her with ease as the evening went on.
CB: Tōko Koga – 6/10 – Impressed when helping Grant to manage with the threat of Kerolin. This was a step up in the quality of opposition that she struggled to manage on the night.
CB: Clare Hunt – 6/10 – Hunt is composed under pressure, she has improved so much since last season. Giving away the penalty was a low point.
LB: Amanda Nildén – 5/10 – Allowed Casparaij to ghost in behind her for the third City goal. Fujino had the better of her all evening.
CM: Drew Spence – 5/10 – Spence started brightly but faded in influence as the game started to escape the home side.
CM: Eveliina Summanen – 5/10 – Made a brilliant challenge on Miedema early on when the Dutch attacker had won the ball back in the press.
CM: Olgha Ahtinen – 5/10 – Struggled to impact the match and was replaced at half time.
RW: Cathinka Tandberg – 6/10 – Misplaced a couple of early passes and almost found the net with another spectacular effort.
LW: Jessica Naz – 7/10 – Looks so much better than she did last season, confidently holding up the ball driving at defences. She is reminding Spurs fans of the exciting player she once was.
ST: Bethany England – 6/10 – England was isolated up top, she tried to link play when give the chance but those opportunities were few and far between.
Substitutes:
Matilda Vinberg (46′ replacing Ahtinen)
Martha Thomas (64′ replacing Tandberg)
Josefine Ryrink (64′ replacing Grant)
Maite Oroz (78′ replacing Spence)
Olivia Holdt (78′ replacing England)
Manchester City Player Ratings
GK: Khiara Keating – 6/10 – Keating had very little to do in this one, was beaten by a magnificent goal from Holdt.
RB: Kerstin Casparij – 9/10 – The second Dutch woman on the score sheet, you would have been forgiven for mistaking her for City’s number 10 such were her poachers instincts. She was constantly popping up on the far side looking to make inroads into the Spurs box.
CB: Alex Greenwood – 7/10 – Another assist for Greenwood who is worth her weight in gold from a set piece delivery. Was defensively sound when required.
CB: Gracie Prior – 7/10 – The centre back continues to gain experience at the top level and is beginning to look the part.
LB: Leila Ouahabi – 7/10 – Ouahabi’s evening was solid if unremarkable.
CM: Yui Hasegawa – 7/10 – Hasegawa is one of the most consistent players in the division. Tonight demonstrated nothing to suggest that will change anytime soon.
CM: Laura Blindkilde Brown – 8/10 – Blindkilde Brown is quietly having a good start to the season, played a vital part in Man City’s victory over Spurs tonight.
CAM: Vivianne Miedema – 8/10 – That’s more like it. The imperious Dutch forward nodded home for City and made it look easy. Still not thriving in an attacking midfield sense but is so comfortable in the attacking third.
RW: Aoba Fujino – 9/10 – Fujino’s pace, dribbling and clinical finishing are vital assets for City, her decision making was impressive today too. She scored a wonderful goal and her darting run into the box was the reason her side got a penalty.
LW: Lauren Hemp – N/A – Hemp had looked bright but was withdrawn before the twenty minute mark after going down injured.
ST: Bunny Shaw – 6/10 – Demonstrated excellent centre forward play for the opening goal, is still trying to find her usual clinical best in front of goal this season. Her penalty miss was evidence of that.
Substitutes:
Kerolin (22′ replacing Hemp)
Grace Clinton (64′ replacing Fujino)
Jade Rose (64′ replacing Greenwood)
Laura Coombs (81′ replacing Miedema)
Iman Beney (81′ replacing Shaw)
