Leicester 1-2 Tottenham: Spurs secure hard-fought victory despite Foxes fightback
Leicester #Leicester
Spence opened her Spurs account in style at the King Power Stadium
Two first-half goals were enough for Tottenham to make a winning start to the Women’s Super League season despite a late fightback from Leicester City at the King Power Stadium.
Ashleigh Neville opened the scoring from distance before debutant Drew Spence matched her with an excellent strike in first-half stoppage time.
Spence’s own goal gave hosts Leicester hope of a comeback on 58 minutes.
But Spurs managed to close out the game to kick off their campaign with a win.
The visitors made tough work of it, and their early flow was disrupted by an injury to forward Rosella Ayane, who was forced off and replaced by new signing Ellie Brazil.
Leicester, who just avoided relegation last season, started their second top-flight campaign with purpose but failed to make it count before Neville broke the deadlock ten minutes before the break with a stunning finish from 35 yards.
Driving forward into acres of space, she unleashed a strike that looped over Kirstie Levell in the Foxes goal.
Suddenly, the visitors were in full control. Levell denied Jess Naz from close range before Spence struck on the brink of half-time, arrowing a shot into the bottom left corner.
Spence’s afternoon took a turn for the worse 13 minutes after the restart when she turned a corner into her own net under pressure from Sophie Howard, halving the deficit for Leicester.
Roared on by a raucous King Power crowd the home side went in search of an equaliser, but just like the first half, struggled to find a cutting edge to level it up.
Spence proves worth despite mixed display
It may have been her error which opened the door for a late Leicester onslaught, but Spence made a positive impact in her first WSL game since her move from Chelsea.
The midfielder offered a different dimension to Rehanne Skinner’s side’s attacking output, helping them take control of the game after a positive start from Leicester.
She could have opened the scoring earlier had she connected properly with the ball from within the area, but made up for it with her stunning long-range effort to double Spurs’ lead. She seldom wasn’t involved either, stamping her authority on proceedings from the middle of the park.
Coming from Chelsea, Spence is used to winning, and on this early evidence she could be the difference in the north Londoners’ fight for Champions League football this season.
Closing the gap to the top three will be high on Spurs’ agenda this season, having finished fifth last term, 15 points behind Manchester City, who took the final European spot.
Line-ups Leicester City Women
Formation 3-5-2
28Levell
15Howard3Tierney22Plumptre
13Simon8Pike14Green10Whelan23Purfield
7Flint16Jones
Substitutes
Tottenham Women
Formation 3-4-3
22Spencer
4Turner5Bartrip3Zadorsky
13Ale15James24Spence29Neville
7Naz25Summanen23Ayane
Substitutes
Live Text
Match ends, Leicester City Women 1, Tottenham Hotspur Women 2.
90’+6′
Second Half ends, Leicester City Women 1, Tottenham Hotspur Women 2.
90’+2′
Offside, Tottenham Hotspur Women. Ashleigh Neville tries a through ball, but Drew Spence is caught offside.
90’+1′
Molly Bartrip (Tottenham Hotspur Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90’+1′
Foul by Catherine Bott (Leicester City Women).
89′
Corner, Tottenham Hotspur Women. Conceded by Erin Simon.
88′
Offside, Leicester City Women. Ashleigh Plumptre tries a through ball, but Missy Goodwin is caught offside.
85′
Ashleigh Neville (Tottenham Hotspur Women) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
85′
Foul by Ashleigh Neville (Tottenham Hotspur Women).
85′
Missy Goodwin (Leicester City Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
85′
Foul by Ellie Brazil (Tottenham Hotspur Women).
85′
Ashleigh Plumptre (Leicester City Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
82′
Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur Women. Celin Ildhusøy replaces Eveliina Summanen.
81′
Attempt saved. Ashleigh Plumptre (Leicester City Women) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Jemma Purfield.
81′
Foul by Molly Bartrip (Tottenham Hotspur Women).
81′
Sophie Howard (Leicester City Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
80′
Substitution, Leicester City Women. Missy Goodwin replaces Carrie Jones.
80′
Drew Spence (Tottenham Hotspur Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
80′
Foul by Aileen Whelan (Leicester City Women).
79′
Shannon O’Brien (Leicester City Women) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.