Player ratings as Blues rise to league summit

Chelsea climbed to the summit of the WSL with a 3-2 victory over a spirited Tottenham at Brisbane Road on Sunday.

Bethany England had netted against her former side to cancel out Jess Carter’s opener, before a stunning Lauren James solo effort and a cool Guro Reiten finish gave the Blues a two-goal buffer. Nikola Karczewska netted late on to set up a grandstand finish, but Chelsea survived the late fightback to secure all three points.

Chelsea started the game on the front foot as Tottenham struggled to get out of their own half and played themselves into trouble when attempting to pass out from the back. Only a superb last ditch Amy Turner tackle could prevent Guro Reiten from giving the Blues the lead.

From the resulting corner short, Chelsea opened the scoring. The Blues played it short, Erin Cuthbert crossed for Carter, who glanced home.

Following a sluggish start, Spurs grew into the game, and saw a lot of joy when pressuring Chelsea high up the pitch. Kadeisha Buchanan was robbed by Ashleigh Neville deep in the Chelsea half, the Spurs winger played a clever pass in behind to Drew Spence, and her teasing ball across the face of goal was stroked home by fellow former Chelsea employee England.

Spurs were buoyed by their equaliser and enjoyed a spell of pressure inside the Blues half, looking dangerous when on the counter and whenever they were able to get bodies forward quickly. Neville was cleverly played in behind by Mana Iwabuchi but couldn’t sort her feet out, before Iwabuchi saw a shot blocked.

But the hosts were unable to capitalise on their spell in the ascendency, and were emphatically punished by a piece of Lauren James magic. The Chelsea winger cut inside from the right, weaved through a series of Spurs bodies and found the bottom corner.

Spence fired narrowly over from range just after the hour, as a competitive opening 15 minutes of the second half with few clear cut chances unfolded.

Moments later, Chelsea doubled their advantage. Celin Bizet failed to deal with a bouncing ball on the half way line, Reiten stole in, raced through on goal and finished coolly.

Spurs pulled one back through substitute Karczewska’s low, close range finish in the 89th minute to set up an exciting finale.

Tinja-Riikka Korpela produced a magnificent reflex save to keep out Fran Kirby as the clock ticked down, as Chelsea survived the Spurs fightback and ensured they would finish the weekend top of the WSL.