Tottenham 1-2 Man Utd - WSL: Player ratings as Red Devils return to top of the table
By Sean Walsh
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 own net.
What was now a frantic and feisty game then saw Toone sent off for lashing out at Eveliina Summanen, reducing United to 10 players for the final 10 minutes.
A looping header from England landed just wide of Earps' post in stoppage time but that was as close as Tottenham came to finding a second equaliser, and United escaped with three vital points to strengthen their title credentials.
Tottenham Hotspur player ratings
GK: Tinja-Riikka Korpela - 5/10 - Not a lot she could have done about the goal.
RB: Celin Bezet - 5/10 - Covered a lot of ground but was given a lot to do by Galton.
CB: Shelina Zadorsky - 6/10 - Defended with confidence and tried to double up on Galton at times.
CB: Molly Bartrip - 4/10 - An unfortunate own goal, but one that was crucial to deciding the outcome.
CB: Amy Turner - 6/10 - Shuffled across to clamp down Parris. Sacrificed for James late on.
LB: Kerys Harrop - 5/10 - Likewise largely kept Parris quiet but found it harder living with Batlle.
RM: Mana Iwabuchi - 7/10 - Sometimes wasteful but her quick thinking and ingenuity led to Spurs' equaliser.
CM: Drew Spence - 4/10 - A sloppy passer and was easily played through in the second half.
CM: Eveliina Summanen - 5/10 - Similarly didn't provide a lot of protection as United went through the gears.
LM: Ashleigh Neville - 7/10 - Absolutely everywhere. Another strong performance which will have strengthened future England credentials.
CF: Bethany England - 8/10 - Led the press and made life tough for United. Scored a peach of a goal.
Substitutes
Rosella Ayane (69' for Bezet) - 5/10
Angharad James (82' for Turner) - N/A
Manager
Rehanne Skinner - 6/10 - Tottenham put up a good fight against one of the WSL's very best sides.
Manchester United player ratings
GK: Mary Earps - 5/10 - Barely tested. If she had kept out England's goal then she would have outed herself as a superhero.
RB: Ona Batlle - 8/10 - Got forward at every possible opportunity and was one of United's most threatening outlets.
CB: Maya Le Tissier - 6/10 - Caught cold in the first half but improved after the break.
CB: Millie Turner - 6/10 - A decent game on her 100th outing for United.
LB: Hannah Blundell - 6/10 - Given some problems by Bezet early doors but recovered afterwards.
CM: Hayley Ladd - 6/10 - Did her bit in the midfield battle before being withdrawn.
CM: Katie Zelem - 8/10 - Largely controlled the tempo on her own. A menace with her crossing.
RM: Nikita Parris - 5/10 - Looked more lively after half-time but should have caused Spurs more problems with her talent and the space that was often afforded.
AM: Ella Toone - 3/10 - A quiet afternoon from open play and put her teammates under pressure with such a needless red card.
LM: Leah Galton - 8/10 - Spurs, for the most part, did not have an answer for Galton, who carved them apart on several occasions.
CF: Alessia Russo - 7/10 - Dropped deep to link play well, though was sometimes missing as an option in the box.
Substitutes
Lucia Garcia (68' for Parris) - 7/10
Vilde Boe Risa (68' for Ladd) - 6/10
Rachel Williams (83' for Russo) - N/A
Martha Thomas (90' for Galton) - N/A
Manager
Marc Skinner - 7/10 - United started slowly but were impressive for much of the match, dispatching a buoyant and tough team in Tottenham.
