Manchester City Women 4-1 Tottenham Women: Spurs blitzed by Citizens as Morgan left out again

Tottenham Hotspur Women knew they had an enormous challenge ahead of them as they travelled to take on Manchester City in the FA WSL on Sunday. City are one of the best clubs in women’s world football, and Spurs have yet to score a goal from open play this season. Tottenham’s new signing Alex Morgan did not make the matchday squad.

Tottenham held off City for most of the first half with an organized defense and a selective press, but City scored somewhat controversially when Chloe Kelly fired home a long range effort after Kit Graham was down injured. City scored twice early in the second half to put the match to bed.

Anna Filbey bundled a consolation goal home off of a Spurs corner late in the game, but City rolled to the win. The final score was 4-1.

Key Moments

5’ — Becky Spencer called into action early after Chloe Kelly fires a shot that forces a diving save from the Spurs keeper.

18’ — Spurs again trying to press high and disrupt City’s ability to easily progress the ball. Working so far, but key will be whether Spurs tire as the game goes on.

29’ — Great chance for City. Steph Houghton splits Spurs’ back line with a through ball and Ellen White has enough space to plonk a great shot off the crossbar. Lucky Spurs.

33’ — Goal to City. Chloe Kelly with a great shot from distance and puts the ball in the top corner. Wow. 1-0 to City.

43’ — Two quick bookings on Spurs — captain Josie Green for a midfield challenge on Caroline Weir and Rianna Dean for an encounter with keeper Ellie Roebuck.

HALF-TIME — Spurs have been well organized defensively but again they are really struggling going forward. Not a sniff in City’s box and no shots at all. Hard to see where the equalizer is going to come from.

One halftime change for Spurs as Angela Addison comes on for Kit Graham.

52’ — Penalty to City after Gemma Bonner gets a slight push in the back and goes down like she was shot. It was a really weak call. Chloe Kelly steps up and buries the spot kick and City lead 2-0.

53’ — Goal to City. USWNT star Sam Mewis takes a dribble and fires home a left footed shot into the top corner. City lead 3-0. Welp.

63’ — Double sub for City as Caroline Weir and Chloe Kelly come off for Jess Park and USWNT’s Rose Lavelle.

64’ — Yellow card on Kerrys Harrop who steps up into midfield and clatters a City player.

68’ — Another goal for City. Ellen White heads it past Spencer off of a corner kick.

69’ — Two more subs for Spurs as Rosella Ayane and Lucy Quinn comes on for Rianna Dean and Josie Green.

79’ — GOAL TOTTENHAM! After Angela Addison forced Roebuck to make a quality save, Anna Filbey shoulders in off the ensuing corner kick and Spurs get a consolation goal. 4-1 City.

FULL TIME: Not a great day at the office for Spurs Women, who fall 4-1. But hey, they scored!

Reactions

• City’s first goal came after Kit Graham was down on the pitch injured, and City opted to play on. There’s an argument that City should’ve played the ball out for touch — they didn’t, and scored though it’s hard to say that they got an advantage from it. It was a good enough shot that I’m not especially bothered.
• City well and truly put this to bed early in the half. The Bonner penalty decision was suuuuuuper weak but Mewis’ goal was well taken and Spurs just fell apart afterwards.
• It’s hard to know how Spurs are going to get many positive results this season if they can’t get anything going offensively. They didn’t register a single shot until the 79th minute when Addison fired a good effort, and though Filbey bundled one in off of a corner kick, it wasn’t a great match in terms of offensive prowess.
• It’s a brutal stretch of matches for Spurs — they host FAWC side London City in the cup next week, but their following matches are Manchester United, @Arsenal, @Chelsea, Reading. Ouch.