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Sunday 02 February 2025 21:04
Manchester United beat Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 on the road as we move back up to second in the Women’s Super League table.
United got off to a flying start, employing that high press and netting an early goal courtesy of Elisabeth Terland.
Marc Skinner’s side dominated possession in the first half but couldn’t add to our tally.
Spurs were much improved in the second 45 but we showed why we have the best defensive record in the league this season to grind out the three points.
The Reds put in a solid display at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
FIRST HALF – TERLAND GIVES US THE LEAD
Head coach Skinner named an unchanged starting XI from the side that beat Brighton 3-0 last weekend. We executed the high press which had worked so well for us in our previous two WSL games and put the home side under early pressure.
Inside six minutes, that pressure paid off as Terland punished Spurs, darting in front of Ashleigh Neville at the last moment to volley in Jayde Riviere’s perfect cross from the right.
The Reds remained on top, dominating possession in the opening 20 minutes as we looked to increase our advantage. There were further chances for Ella Toone and Leah Galton, with Riviere proving vital to United’s attacking build-up.
Jess Naz looked threatening down the Spurs left when she got the ball but United were alive to the danger and quick to cut those attacks out. Spurs’ first chance of the half came from Hayley Raso, who managed to shake United’s defence off but the resulting shot was well wide.
The Reds felt we should have had a penalty with around half an hour gone as Millie Turner was pushed from behind by former Reds striker Martha Thomas following a corner, but the referee Kirsty Dowle blew for a Tottenham free-kick.
United came again, Hinata Miyazawa and Dominique Janssen had shots blocked, Terland kept making runs into the box and Ella Toone’s long-range effort hit the post. The Reds just couldn’t capitalise on our chances and we headed in at half-time with just the slender 1-0 lead over the hosts.
Terland’s sixth-minute strike was her sixth goal for United.
SECOND HALF
Robert Vilahamn’s side showed more composure in the second half and were on the front foot in the opening 10 minutes. Riviere stuck out a strong foot to dispossess Naz but conceded a corner. United struggled to get out as the ball bobbed around in the box but the Reds got bodies around the ball and blocked a couple of shots from the hosts.
As we tried to wrestle back our dominance, Janssen found herself in acres of space on the edge of the box and her volleyed attempt was just wide of the post. Moments later, Terland had a golden opportunity to make it two. Toone fired the ball into the box but it bounced awkwardly for our no.19 who couldn’t dig it out, leaving Lize Kop to collect.
Former Spurs player Celin Bizet dealt with the hostile reception she received from the home fans well.
The game was much more open, Naz forced a good save from Tullis-Joyce at one end before Terland was clipped on the edge of the box at the other end but once again, the decision did not go our way.
Some good build-up play almost led to a second for the Reds, Bizet laid the ball off for Millie Turner to run onto but Kop held onto her shot. Then it was Spurs’ turn to attack again with Bethany England heading over the bar. This slender lead felt very fragile.
As we headed into six minutes of additional time, the Reds’ game management skills kicked in as we held onto possession. The victory means United climb back into second in the table with our fifth win in a row in the league.
MATCH DETAILS
Tottenham:
Kop; Neville, Hunt, Bartrip, Nilden; Oroz, Rybrink (Csiki 86); Raso, Thomas (Holdt 77), Naz (Vinberg 86); England.
Substitutes not used: Spencer, Buhler, Grant, Ahtinen, Ayane, Gunning-William.
Booked: Raso
United: Tullis-Joyce; Riviere (Mannion 90), Le Tissier, Turner, George (Sandberg 64); Bizet, Toone, Miyazawa, Janssen (Awujo 64), Galton (Galton 64); Terland.
Substitutes not used: Middleton-Patel, Clinton, Williams.
Goals: Terland 6.
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Sunday 02 February 2025 21:04
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