Manchester United moved to the top of the WSL table after beating a resilient Spurs 2-1 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
A late flurry of goals saw the Red Devils prevail in north London after being reduced to 10 players when Ella Toone was sent off.
After having most of the possession in the first 15 minutes, United brought about the game’s first chance. Mary Earps’ direct ball was held up by Alessia Russo and laid off for Toone, who spotted the run of Leah Galton beyond the last line. However, the winger was unable to keep her shot down when raving through on goal and the opportunity went begging.
Galton had the ball in the net soon after when she nodded in a deep cross from Ona Batlle, but the offside flag had been raised and the goal was chalked off.
Tottenham should have taken the lead midway through the first half when Ashleigh Neville managed to draw away four United defenders, allowing Bethany England to run in behind unmarked, but her effort from just inside the box sailed over the bar and the visitors got away with one.
Just after the break, Galton made a dart inside from the left byline and poked a shot at Tinja-Riikka Korpela’s near post, though could only find the side-netting.
Katie Zelem then flashed a free-kick just wide before Russo’s quick snapshot whistled past the post as United’s fast start to the second half continued.
Nikita Parris then released Toone on a quick break, and her cross-cum-shot rattled back against the upright to United’s increasing frustration.
Spurs spurned another great opportunity on the counter when Neville played in Mana Iwabuchi, but she was unable to find England with her cut-back through the United box.
A deflected strike from Russo off of Molly Bartrip forced Korpela into a low save – the first for either goalkeeper all afternoon – while Amy Turner cleared a shot from Toone off the line.
After battering down the Spurs door, United finally took the lead in the 66th minute. Batlle’s cross fell to Galton, who was able to compose herself amid a crowded penalty area and fire into the roof of the net.
The visitors weren’t ahead for long. With 75 minutes on the clock, Mana Iwabuchi played a quick free-kick for England to chase, and she cut inside and picked out the far corner with a superb strike.
But United went back in front immediately from the resulting kick-off. Substitute Lucia Garcia played a delicious cross through the box waiting for Galton to tap in, but Bartrip got there first and could only divert the ball into her…
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