Spurs Women fall to defeat at Chelsea
Spurs Women slipped to defeat for the first time during Rehanne Skinner’s tenure, suffering a 4-0 loss to Chelsea at Kingsmeadow on Sunday in the Barclays FA Women’s Super League.
Three goals in 12 first-half minutes from Melanie Leupolz, Pernille Harder and Sam Kerr gave the reigning champions a commanding lead at the break, before Leupolz doubled her tally from a second-half penalty.
Head Coach Rehanne made five changes to the side that beat West Ham 1-0 at Victoria Road a fortnight ago, handing Spurs debuts to goalkeeper Aurora Mikalsen and loan signing Abbie McManus. Kerys Harrop, Kit Graham and Angela Addison also returned to the starting line-up for the London derby.
We started confidently against the league leaders and pressured with several close-cut chances during the opening period. After 13 minutes, Shelina Zadorsky curled an effort just over Chelsea’s crossbar, moments before Ria Percival unleashed a strike from distance that forced a fingertip save from Ann-Katrin Berger and crashed off the frame of the goal.
The hosts slowly worked their way into the match and with 22 minutes played, Fran Kirby broke through and fired a shot into the side netting. Shortly after, Mikalsen was called into action when she confidently claimed a shot from Harder.
Three minutes later, Leupolz opened the scoring for the Blues when she fired home from long-range into the right bottom corner. Chelsea doubled their lead two minutes later when Kirby darted into the box from the right-hand side and played a pass to Harder, whose first-time shot deflected off McManus as it flew into the net.
Six minutes before half-time, Kerr added Chelsea’s third when she latched onto Harder’s cross from the left and accurately headed home to give the hosts a firm lead at the break.
Nine minutes into the second half, Percival stood strong and denied Chelsea with a headed goal-line block. After 63 minutes, Chelsea’s fourth came from the penalty spot when Harrop was caught out with an unfortunate hand-ball. Leupolz stepped up and slotted home into the bottom left corner for her second goal of the afternoon.
With 15 minutes remaining, substitute Rosella Ayane saw her shot deflected into Chelsea’s side netting. Captain Alanna Kennedy couldn’t divert her header past Berger from the resulting corner and Chelsea’s assertive display earned the champions all three points.
We remain in seventh place in the WSL following our first defeat in normal time in seven games and return to league action next Saturday (6 February) when we visit Aston Villa at the Bescot Stadium - kick-off is 12.30pm and the match is available to watch live on The FA Player.