HELPING HAND FOR SPURS AS THEY STUN CITY
FOR the second week running, the lack of VAR in the women’s game will dominate reaction to the Women’s Super League action.
Tottenham’s shock 2-1 victory over Manchester City was mired in controversy. How did the officials not see that the ball hit rosella Ayane’s hand before deflecting off Steph Houghton and Karima Taieb into the net?
It seemed obvious to everyone else and it would no doubt have been ruled out had video technology been in use. The goal gave Spurs a 2-1 lead in the 86th minute and they held on to claim a famous win over the WSL title challengers.
‘I’ve seen the second goal and it’s a terrible decision that’s gone against us,’ said City boss Gareth Taylor. ‘It’s pretty incredible that it’s not been chalked off. It’s something that we don’t want to happen, we’ve got to improve standards across the board. But it’s on us, we needed to make sure we’re out of sight before that.’
It’s been a testing start to the season for City, who were eliminated from the Champions League at the qualifying stage after a 1-0 defeat by real Madrid on Wednesday.
Taylor had 14 players away at the olympics during the summer and their late return meant the club did not play any preseason fixtures before the first leg of their qualifier with real, which they drew 1-1.
City have repeatedly disappointed in Europe and their early exit has put extra pressure on Taylor to deliver the WSL title.
The club have finished second four years in a row and know defeats against teams who are not challenging at the top could be costly.
City have also been hit by injuries. They had eight key players out before the game and that figure rose to nine when Esme Morgan was carried off with a knee injury.
But Taylor couldn’t have asked for a better start as Lauren Hemp headed the home side into a 1-0 lead in the sixth minute.
The winger met Alex Greenwood’s pinpoint corner at the front post and had time to arrow her header into the far corner of the net.
City wasted several chances to double their lead before halftime, with Georgia Stanway hitting the post and Janine Beckie blasting over from close-range.
Spurs then got their reward for staying in the game.
Kit Graham probably felt aggrieved to have been dropped for new signing Kyah Simon after scoring the only goal in Spurs’ win over Birmingham last week.
The forward created her team’s equaliser when her perfectly timed ball found Chioma Ubogagu on the left wing.
The cross picked out rachel Williams, who executed a firsttime finish.
Spurs had Becky Spencer to thank for a number of important saves. She tipped an Alanna Kennedy header wide just before half time and then kept out a fierce effort from
Stanway. Filippa Angeldahl should have been the hero on her debut when the ball fell to her inside the box in the 81st minute but she could only fire over the bar.
Then came the controversial ending. Angela Addison whipped a cross into the box and Ayane rose highest but met the ball with her right hand.
That touch hit Houghton and the ball spun into the bottomright corner before then hitting Taieb on its way into the back of the net.
City were furious but they only had themselves to blame for not finding a route back into the game.
They now find themselves three points behind Arsenal, who have two wins from two but are level on points with Chelsea.
A slow start cost City last year and they will know they cannot afford too many more slip ups if they are to end their five-year wait for a title.