Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Arsenal
Tottenham Hotspur came agonisingly close to producing the most notable result of the FA Women’s Super League season to date, but were denied a famous victory by a stoppage-time equaliser from Arsenal’s Vivianne Miedema.
This North London derby was a battle of first against third. Hosts Tottenham entered this encounter having lost all of their previous FA WSL games against Arsenal, scoring only one goal and conceding 11 in the process.
Of the potential four Matildas in this game, two started – Tottenham’s Kyah Simon and the Gunners’ Steph Catley, fresh from scoring a stunning free-kick in her side’s midweek game against Danish side HB Køge in the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
Spurs’ progress this season has been built around defensive solidity. Goal scoring remains an issue, as the team averages slightly over one a game in the top flight, but the greater resilience that Rehanne Skinner has instilled in her side has been clear for all to see after two previous difficult campaigns since Tottenham climbed into the top flight.
Arsenal, the unbeaten FA WSL leaders, were on the offensive from the start. Within the opening 40 seconds, Katie McCabe broke free on the left and played a low ball towards Beth Mead at the back post. The England international’s first touch was heavy and allowed Tinja-Riikka Korpela to block the eventual shot with her legs.
Simon was playing on the left flank in the early exchanges and provided Tottenham’s first two balls into the opposition area, although she will be disappointed as both were below her usual standards.
Catley became increasingly prominent on Arsenal’s left-hand side as she combined with the influential McCabe to further increase the pressure on the Spurs defence.
With 20 minutes gone, Miedema got in on the act when she received the ball to the right of centre outside the area. She easily turned Molly Bartrip and fired in a shot, forcing a low save from Korpela.
Arsenal came desperately close again six minutes later. Mead’s free-kick from the left side was tipped onto the bar by Korpela, with Spurs scrambling the ball to safety.
The Gunners were relentless, racking up twice as much possession as their hosts and seven times as many shots. This North London derby was following a familiar pattern – Spurs defending doggedly in the face of Arsenal dominance.
With eight minutes of the half remaining, Miedema received possession from McCabe and turned the Tottenham defence inside out several times, but her effort struck Maeva Clemaron forcefully in the face.
Four minutes before the break, Arsenal were unlucky once more as McCabe cut in from the left and unleashed an effort which cannoned back off the woodwork. To their relief, Spurs desperately hung on to remain on level terms as the teams headed to the dressing rooms.
The hosts started the second half brightly, forcing two corners in quick succession but not making the most of them. Rachel Williams then combined with Kit Graham and Clemaron to set up Ria Percival, and the Kiwi’s side-footed first-time shot was held by Manuela Zinsberger.
Arsenal responded in some style on 52 minutes as Catley found Mead in the six-yard box, however Korpela stood tall to block the Lionesses star’s effort once more. Two minutes later, Miedema teased Neville twice before cracking in a shot that flew wide of the far post.
Shortly afterwards, Miedema thought she had escaped the Spurs defence, but Neville put in a superb block to deny her.
Arsenal then paid the price for failing to turn 62% of possession and five shots on target into goals when Spurs went ahead with 25 minutes to go. Simon played a beautiful ball to the back post, where Graham’s shot was repelled by Zinsberger. Williams pounced on the loose ball and forced it over the line – the first FA WSL goal that Arsenal had conceded all season.
Six minutes later, Spurs could have settled it after Zinsberger pushed Shelina Zadorsky’s drive towards Neville, but despite an open goal the defender could only put the ball over the bar.
With 10 minutes left, Simon received the ball over the top, controlled it instantly and unleashed a drive that bounced narrowly wide – this was the Matilda’s final touch of the game. Another Matilda, Caitlin Foord, was introduced for Mead as the game ticked towards its conclusion.
Then came the late drama two minutes into stoppage time when Miedema climbed above Neville and Zadorsky, powerfully heading home from McCabe’s corner to level the scores.
Ultimately, this result pleased neither team. Spurs were frustrated that they let slip a famous win at the death, while Arsenal rued failing to convert the 18 shots they mustered into a winning scoreline.
Speaking afterwards, Tottenham Hotspur defender Ashleigh Neville said: “I’ll always look back at that one I missed. We lost 5-1 to them in the Cup a few weeks back, so to gain a 1-1 draw against them today speaks volumes.”
Spurs goal scorer Rachel Williams summed the game up as: “Hard work and graft. We just wanted to make sure we didn’t get beat 5-1 again. We kept them at bay. Our keeper has pulled off some worldies today. The girls are really down right now, but we got a point against (Manchester) United last week and a point today against Arsenal. If you would have given me that before those games, I would have bitten your hand off.
“We work hard on the training ground. You never know what you are going to get with us. I don’t know what I’m going to get from us!”
Arsenal head coach Jonas Eidevall felt: “The performance was better than the result. I’m disappointed with that. We got into a difficult position when we conceded. We kept belief and kept creating scoring opportunities. Even after we scored we had another chance to score. That shows how our character is.
“We didn’t have a lack of goal-scoring opportunities, but not taking them is a shame. It was a similar performance from all our WSL performances, but with one difference: we didn’t convert chances into goals.”
Rehanne Skinner, the Tottenham head coach said: “It was the last five minutes that decided it. It was a massive point for us. The girls worked so hard. It is all about character with us. We have players who want to do the hard parts of the game. We showed that character today.
“We weren’t positive on possession in the first half. We were too negative on the ball. If you look after the ball, you can play against anyone. We did that in the second half and could have had more goals.
“Kit Graham needed to keep herself in the game and if she missed the first ball, make sure she gets the second. It was all about shortening up the passes in the end.
“Building a fan base and getting young girls to want to play for us in the future is a big deal for us. We will do that by fighting to the end and giving it our all.”
Teams: TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (4-2-3-1): Korpela, Neville, Bartrip, Zadorsky, Harrop, Percival, Clemaron, Simon, Graham, Ubogagu, Williams. Substitutes: Morgan, Green (for Simon 80’), Ale (for Clemaron 80’), Addison (for Ubogagu 64’), Ayane, Heeps (GK).
Scorers: Williams 65’
ARSENAL (4-3-3): Zinsberger, Maritz, Williamson, Wubben-Moy, Catley, Maanum, Wälti, Little, Mead, Miedema, McCabe. Substitutes: Patten, Nobbs (for Maanum 68’), Parris (for Catley 68’), Williams (GK), Foord (for Mead 84’), Boye Sørensen, Iwabuchi (for Wälti 84’) , Goldie, Heath.
Scorers: Miedema 90+2
Referee: Amy Fearns.
Attendance: 2,896 (a record crowd for Tottenham Hotspur Women at their regular stadium).
