Vinberg’s first goal seals victory over Foxes in WSL

We returned to winning ways in the Barclays Women’s Super League as Matilda Vinberg’s first goal for the Club was enough to secure a 1-0 victory over Leicester City on Sunday afternoon.

The Sweden international was making her first start in the WSL and it got off to the perfect start as, with only two minutes on the clock, she converted Jessica Naz’s cross after a lovely move, starting from Becky Spencer at the back.

Drew Spence struck the woodwork just after the first quarter in what was an electric start at Brisbane Road, but the visitors had their opportunities, Spencer producing a fantastic double save before Jutta Rantala’s powerful effort from a tight angle came off the inside of the post in the early minutes of the second half.

We our chances in the closing stages of the game to extend our advantage, Kit Graham seeing her shot cleared off the line while Bethany England saw a goal disallowed for offside, but Vinberg’s early opener saw us claim the three points and our first victory in the league since January.

It was also our third consecutive 1-0 victory over the Foxes at home in the WSL – as we welcome them to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium next month (14 April) for the semi-final of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup.

Robert Vilahamn made two changes to his starting XI that faced Manchester City last week as Vinberg and Spence – who was also making her first start since November – came in for Martha Thomas and Olga Ahtinen, with the former unavailable due to a minor injury.

There was only two minutes on the clock before we opened the scoring and it was a lovely free-flowing counter-attack move. Spencer claimed the Foxes’ free-kick from the left and played a low-driven pass to Celin Bizet, she picked out Spence who then slid the ball into the path of Naz and her cross was converted by Vinberg on the volley.

We looked to build on a fantastic start, Amanda Nilden dragging an effort wide of the far post before Spence took aim from 20 yards out, hitting the top of the crossbar and, as the ball looped in the air, Lize Kop was forced to claw it off the line.

Vinberg had a golden opportunity to double her tally in the 16^th minute as she cut onto her left foot on the edge of the six-yard box but was blocked by two of the Foxes’ defender and, although the ball fell kindly to Spence, she couldn’t direct it on target.

The visitors began to carve out chances in the latter stages of the first half, Saori Takarada being denied by Nilden and Spencer in quick succession, before the Japanese international saw her curling effort pushed around the post by our number 22.

Spencer then produced a fantastic double save in added time, getting down low to save Aileen Whelan’s effort and was quick to her feet to block Lena Petermann before the assistant referee flagged for offside straight after, although she was completely unaware at the time.

Vilahamn made a number of changes in the early minutes of the second half, including the introduction of Rosella Ayane, who has now surpassed 100 appearances for the Club, however, the Foxes were inches away from grabbing an equaliser as Rantala’s effort from a tight angle crashed against the inside of the post.

England was denied by Kop at her near-post after clever footwork from our captain to create space inside the box and, moments later, Naz delivered an inch-perfect cross in to Ayane on the edge of the six-yard box but the Morocco international sent her first-time shot wide of the post.

As the clock towards the final minutes, we searched for a second of the game as England’s cross was parried away by Kop but only into the path of Graham, her effort on the rebound was cleared off the line, while our captain saw a goal ruled out for offside in injury time. However, that didn’t matter in the end as we held on to secure an important win in the WSL.

Match data

Goal: Spurs – Vinberg 2.

Yellow cards: Spurs – Bizet 45+3, Petzelberger 83, Neville 63; Leicester City – Cayman 73, Pelgander 88.

Referee: Adewunmi Soneye.

Stadium: Brisbane Road.

Weather: Sunny, 16 degrees.

Attendance: 1,507.