Tottenham Hotspur squandered a three-goal lead when Manchester United fought back late in the game to secure a 3-3 draw.
The Red Devils returned to the Progress With Unity Stadium on Sunday to host the Lilywhites in the Barclays Women’s Super League (WSL).
The match followed a challenging few weeks in the UEFA Women’s Champions League for the Red Devils: last Wednesday, they were defeated 3-0 by European powerhouses OL Lyonnes, and before that, they lost heavily to Wolfsburg. There was some positivity in Europe, however, due to impressive wins over PSG and Atletico Madrid, United have secured a playoff place ahead of the Champions League quarter-final.
Their league standing is a little more precarious. A loss to cross-city rivals Manchester City, followed by an unexpected home defeat by Aston Villa, means United are on the edge, falling out of the top four — a loss to Spurs would see the London side leapfrog them in the table, dropping United to fifth.
For the London side, fortunes have turned following a disappointing eleventh-placed finish last season. Martin Ho arrived as the new head coach in the summer and has turned the team around. Ahead of the match, United’s Marc Skinner said Ho has introduced a more energetic style of pressing — one that he hoped his side would be ready for, whilst also ensuring defensive stability.
This was the first game of a double header between the two sides this month: they are set to meet later on in the Subway Women’s League Cup.
Ahead of the defeat to Lyonnes, United head coach Marc Skinner revealed that Norwegian striker Elisabeth Terland had picked up a knock in the win over West Ham United and would miss out — she returned against Tottenham, though her minutes were managed. Phallon Tullis-Joyce returned in goal for the third consecutive game following an absence caused by a fracture to her eye socket.
Millie Turner last featured in September before being sidelined with a knee injury, but Skinner revealed earlier in the week that Spurs’ visit could signal the defender’s return to action as she was named on the bench.
The visitors arrived with an extensive injury list, with England winger Jess Naz the latest addition to the treatment room after the club confirmed that she suffered an ACL injury during the win against Aston Villa. Naz joins teammates Ella Morris and Maite Oroz, who are both recovering from the same injury.
Alongside that trio, Charlie Grant, Olga Ahtinen and Cathinka Tandberg are not expected back until after Christmas, while Luana Buhler also remains sidelined, having not featured since last season.
The Lineups
MUN: Tullis-Joyce; Riviere, Le Tissier, Janssen, Sandberg; Miyazawa, Olme; Park, Toone, Malard; Terland.
TOT: Kop; Nildén, Hunt, Koga, Neville; Spence, Summanen; Vinberg, Holdt, Thomas; England.
The Action
Man United were the better side for large spells of the first half but were unable to turn their dominance into goals. The crossbar played an unlikely defensive role for Spurs, struck four times by United in the opening 45 minutes. Hinata Miyazawa went close twice, with both efforts slightly wide, while Melvine Malard’s superb effort crashed against the bar. There was an intriguing link-up between Jess Park and Dominique Janssen, with the Dutch defender hunting down an offensive passing option — an approach that almost paid off more than once.
Tottenham, however, remained disciplined, sitting in a deep defensive block and maintaining their shape. Any attempts to break forward were quickly snuffed out by the home side’s press. Yet, against the run of play and with little warning, it was the visitors who opened the scoring. Amanda Nildén picked up the ball and delivered a hanging cross into the box, which Bethany England met superbly, powering a header past Phallon Tullis-Joyce.
United responded almost immediately. Malard again rattled the crossbar from the edge of the box, and Elisabeth Terland’s rebound was dramatically cleared off the line by Toko Koga. It felt a matter of when, not if, the hosts would equalise – they recorded 16 shots, 1.71 expected goals, and four shots on target in the first half alone.
Instead, United were stunned. They switched off out wide, allowing Ashleigh Neville to make an overlapping run, and her cross to the back post was nodded home by Eveliina Summanen.
Speaking to the BBC at half-time, Tottenham head coach Ho said: “We’ve performed well. We had to ride the first 20 minutes — they were on top and they’re a good team, so we knew they would create chances and we had to accept that,” he added, reflecting that “we suffered defensively at times, but I think we defended the box well. Then we had some moments at the other end and two really good finishes.”
Just after the hour mark, Fridolina Rolfö was introduced for a frustrated – and increasingly ill-disciplined – Julia Zigiotti Olme. Despite the added attacking threat, it was once again the visitors who struck, as former United forward Martha Thomas scored her first WSL goal in over two years.
With United’s well-documented lack of squad depth becoming increasingly evident as fatigue set in, a comeback appeared unlikely. However, a scramble in the Tottenham box saw Ella Toone score acrobatically to give the hosts a lifeline.
Spurs immediately reverted to the deep, disciplined shape they had started with, patiently sticking to their game plan as United threw everything forward. A Park effort was parried into the path of Toone, but this time her follow-up struck the crossbar.
United eventually found another breakthrough when Malard’s chance fell to Rolfö, who reduced the deficit to one. With minutes remaining, the tempo rose sharply as Spurs, visibly tiring after long periods of defensive work, began to lose their composure. A couple of missed clearances into the box gave United renewed belief.
Park slipped into the area and teed up substitute Leah Galton, whose initial effort fell kindly for Rolfö, and the Swede calmly slotted home to secure a point for United in what was, despite the scoreline, a largely one-sided contest.
Fridolina Rolfö crucial for Man United
When fans discuss United’s lack of depth, they often also refer to the fact that it is a young and relatively inexperienced side. Previous transfer windows have focused on picking up emerging talent like Simi Awujo and even now-captain 23-year-old Maya Le Tissier, rather than established players with more club and international experience.
The last two summers have broken this mould somewhat as United have sought out experience. In 2024, it was dynamic and versatile Netherlands international Dominique Janssen, who had played in two Champions League finals with Wolfsburg and won the 2017 European Championship. This summer, United secured the signature of Sweden’s Rolfö, who spent four years at FC Barcelona, winning the Champions League alongside numerous other titles.
Against Spurs, United looked stretched, worn out, and fatigued. Leadership was lacking somewhat on the pitch, and the team looked understandably frustrated by their apparent inability to put the ball in the back of the net. Introduced on the hour mark, Rolfö added composure to a flailing side and marshalled her teammates away from the frustration. In 17 touches, she had five shots – three of which were on target, and two of which were goals.
A big lesson learned from the last few weeks for United should be that they need more signings like Rolfö, not just in terms of statistics and performance, but also for leadership and mentality.
Spurs continue their resurgence
The Tottenham who showed out at the Progress With Unity stadium look a far cry from the team we saw at any point last season – perhaps even beyond that. Their injury list would give many bigger teams a huge wobble; however, Ho’s steady leadership means they keep progressing despite the numerous setbacks they have encountered.
A key element of this is that the spine of the team – from Hunt and Koga in central defence through Spence and Summanen in midfield and Holdt behind the forward – has become extremely dependable, strong and unlikely to make poor decisions. The signing of Holdt last January is arguably comparable to the impact Rolfö has had at United – the 24-year-old has played a starring role in the team’s resurgence.
If they continue to strengthen around the spine – and Holdt continues her impressive form — one can only imagine the revival will continue.
