WSL: Drew Spence snags important point to end Tottenham run of defeats | OneFootball

A sunny King Power Stadium welcomed Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur for a Women’s Super League stalemate on Sunday. A Spurs own goal gave the Foxes the lead after half-time but Drew Spence was able to snag a point back for her side thanks to an important equaliser.

The points were shared but the result ended Tottenham’s five-match losing streak and kept the teams as they were in the league standings, with Spurs in ninth and Leicester in tenth.

Starting XIs

Leicester City

Leitzig; Tierney, Bott, Howard, Cayman, Ale, Thibaud, Cain, O’Briend, Chossenotte, Momiki

Tottenham Hotspur

Kop; Morris, Bartrip, Nilden, Naz, Oroz, Holdt, Rybrink, Thomas, Spence, Summanen

A quiet first half

Tottenham Hotspur won the toss and opted to put Janina Leitzig in the Leicester goal in the sun but they failed to make it count in a first half that was close to call. CJ Bott had her work cut out marking Jessica Naz and the Tottenham attacker nearly broke through, getting beyond Bott and into the area. But the Foxes’ New Zealand international tracked back and regained possession.

There were a few frustrated players on the pitch with decisions from the referee feeling inconsistent. As Bott was the first and only player in the first half to see yellow, it seemed harsh.

Tottenham enjoyed 75 percent possession but were limited to shots from distance, only managing to get three of their eight on target and none drastically troubling Leitzig. The half ended 0-0.

All action in the second half to snag 1-1 draw

Tottenham got the second half underway and put Leicester under pressure straight away. Julie Thibaud gave away a free-kick in Leicester’s defensive area, near the corner flag. The chance came to nothing as Leitzig punched clear of her goal, and Leicester attempted to maintain possession.

Leicester enjoyed some of the ball. Janice Cayman took a shot from the edge of the area but it didn’t trouble Kop in the Tottenham goal. Spence then created space on the edge of the Leicester penalty area but fired well over.

Shauna Chossenotte came close after cutting in from the left-hand side, she shot low but beyond the post. Leicester started to cause problems and on 55 minutes, Hannah Cain shot from the edge of the area. She tested Kop, who could only parry against her own player, Josefine Rybrink, who made it 1-0 to Leicester with a frustrating own goal.

The match opened up and Tottenham readied three substitutes but they equalised before they could get on. Spence coolly finishing beyond Leitzig to make it 1-1.

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On 71 minutes Leicester made their first change that saw a limping Shannon O’Brien replaced by Hlín Eiríksdóttir, to give Leicester more of an out-and-out striker up top.

The Foxes looked strong at the back, with Julie Thibaud in the way of everything. The defender has really claimed her place in the starting lineup since the new year and has built a solid partnership with Sophie Howard, who again looked assured in possession. The match ended at full throttle with Leitzig called upon again to help keep her side in the points as they were shared.

Coming up next

Leicester face a wait to see when their rescheduled match away against Arsenal will be and then battle Manchester City back at the King Power on April 27th. Tottenham take on Aston Villa in the WSL on April 20th.

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