Spurs and Brighton still haunted by WSL relegation threat after draw
Tottenham and Brighton are still firmly in the WSL relegation mire after a tense 2-2 draw at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The hosts had Beth England to thank for the point, who twice pegged back Brighton either side of half-time. Elisabeth Terland and substitute Lee Guem-Min struck for Albion, but they had to settle for a draw when England broke the offside trap 12 minutes from time.
Both sides were put under extra pressure earlier in the day, when bottom club Leicester thrashed Liverpool 4-0 to move 10th. And the visitors got the dream start after top scorer Terland fired home from close range after Becky Spencer couldn't handle her initial effort.
Spurs were level instantly through England from a corner, but when Lee struck a superb curling effort beyond Spencer, the hosts were in trouble. But Tottenham's record signing again saved the day to ensure they
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You'd dread to think where Tottenham would be without Beth England this season. Having only signed in January she seems to be determined to save Spurs from the drop almost single-handedly.
Once again the hosts appeared in real trouble when Brighton took the lead through Terland's close-range finish. But within seconds Spurs were level after the hosts were, almost immediately, roared forward to force a corner. Their record signing got to the near post in front of her marker and headed home to level things, her seventh WSL goal since joining from Chelsea.
Spurs hat a foothold in the game and from that moment on the crowd were with them. When she repeated the trick for number eight with an exquisite run and finish in the 78th minute, she had once again rescued her struggling team.
Beth England celebrates after drawing Spurs level for the second timeLee proves super sub after surviving potential red
What looked to be Brighton's winner came courtesy of a superb curling strike from Lee Geum-Min that led to audible boos ringing around the Spurs stadium. It could have been down to the poor performance but there was also an element of injustice for Tottenham supporters.
Only minutes before scoring Brighton's second, the South Korean international had struck an arm out in midfield which caused Eveliina Summanen to go to ground. Tottenham's bench were calling for the red, but referee Cheryl Foster saw it only as a yellow.
Whether she was lucky to stay on the field or not, there was no doubting the quality of Lee's winner. A superb curling effort gave Becky Spencer no chance and gave Brighton a priceless lead away to their relegation rivals.
Spurs again look defensive
Tottenham had looked re-born as an attacking force in last week's 3-3 thriller with Aston Villa. At home to one of the few teams below them in the table, many heading down the Severn Sisters probably expected an front-foot performance.
But despite England always offering a threat on the counter, Spurs were flat as an attacking force for much of this game. When Celin Bizet had a curling effort that flew past the post just before half-time it was the first time Tottenham had really threatened Lydia Williams goal since the equaliser.
It is a puzzle Vicky Jepson has yet to solve since replacing Rehanne Skinner as coach. Bar England's predatory finishing, Spurs don't carry enough numbers in attack. Both Jess Naz and Mana Iwabuchi were left warming the bench with the hosts failing to insert any energy into the contest.
Belatedly they did throw bodies forward after Brighton took the lead and were rewarded when England struck again. But for Jepson, it is a reoccurring theme of Spurs' season that doesn't seem to shift.
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Beth England levels things up for SpursLeicester win means both are far from safe
Before a ball was kicked in North London, Leicester City ensured Saturday gave us a new twist in the race to avoid the WSL drop. The Foxes cruised past Liverpool at the King Power Stadium, winning 4-0.
That win moved them onto 13 points, level with Spurs and one ahead of Brighton at kick-off. Reading now occupy the bottom spot, but they would move out of the drop place if they could shock Man City tomorrow.
Although both sides may well take a point from today, they will need to find another gear if they want to avoid dropping to the Championship. Leicester have momentum and Reading have an uncanny knack of pulling out a result when they most need one.
It was a crucial point on the board, but neither Melissa Phillips or Vicky Jepson will be resting easy yet.
Ria returns
The most heart-warming moment of a breathless second half came when Ria Percival returned to competitive action. After a year out with an ACL injury sustained last April, Percival replaced Beth England with eight minutes left on the clock.
She was given a huge ovation from the Spurs' faithful and seemed to give the hosts a lift on the field in the closing stages. Having signed a new contract extension and with a home World Cup finals now firmly in her sights, a strong end to the season would complete a remarkable return for Percival.
Spurs stadium world class but need a team to match
If today's result does prove the catalyst for Spurs' surge to survival they need a huge rethink over the summer. It was the second time Spurs have played at their men's stadium this season and once again the crowd was noisy and enthusiastic. WSL fixtures in perhaps the best stadium on the planet will always be a huge boost to the league.
But the home fans need to see more from a squad that enjoy some of the best facilities in the competition. Daniel Levy may be arguing for the WSL to become a closed shop, but in reality relegation to the Championship isn't going anywhere and will only become a greater threat if the teams near the bottom don't improve.
Only 12 months ago, Tottenham were pushing Arsenal all the way in the derby. They need to, at the very least, be looking back towards the top half next season.
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