Report: Spurs 0 United Women 0

Despite a strong start from the home side at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the Reds showed resilience at the back to ensure the deadlock was maintained going into half-time. 

United improved after the break, with half-time substitute Melvine Malard going close to troubling the scoreline, before goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce was called into action on several occasions at the other end.

Positively for Marc Skinner's visitors, Anna Sandberg, Ella Toone and Ellen Wangerheim were all able to return from their respective injuries in the second half, but it was an otherwise frustrating afternoon in our bid to qualify for next season's UEFA Champions League.

The draw takes United above Arsenal and into the third of the WSL's three qualification positions with two games left to play, but the Gunners are only a point behind and have three matches in hand. Second-place Chelsea, meanwhile, have opened up a four-point gap on us after winning at Everton, elsewhere on Sunday.

FIRST HALF

An expansive start to the game required the Reds to be switched on in defence. With just five minutes gone, Spurs advanced several times into our penalty area. However, a well-timed block from Simi Awujo denied Signe Gaupset from delivering an dangerous-looking cross.

With 10 minutes played, it was the home side who continued to dominate, with the Reds still to find a foothold in the game. Their high press limited our time on the ball and forced us into early mistakes. But defensive resilience from the United backline ensured the deadlock remained. 

Spurs continued to push and saw a multitude of chances fall their way. Amanda Nilden and Gaupset linked up down the right flank, but Jess Park was well-positioned to clear the danger. 

There was no chance for respite as Spurs came again and sustained their pressure. Lisa Naalsund was on hand to deflect Gaupset’s effort wide of the goal, before the resulting corner sailed over Tullis-Joyce’s goal. 

Midway through the first half, United grew into the game with spells of prolonged possession. January singing Hanna Lundkvist looked especially bright down the left-hand side, combining with fellow Sweden international Fridolina Rolfo.

The wide areas seemed to be the best avenue of attack for us in the first 45. Canada international Jayde Riviere had the beating of Julie Blakstad on several occasions on our right, but we were unable to find a clear effort on goal. 

Before half-time, Spurs had a flurry of corners, but Tullis-Joyce was on hand to calm any nerves, claiming the ball on several occasions while surrounded by white shirts.

SECOND HALF

United were quick out the blocks in the second half and looked a much-improved outfit after Marc Skinner’s half-time change. Awujo left the fray as Melvine Malard was called upon, and the France international almost found an immediate breakthrough. 

Just 35 seconds after entering the field, our no.9 found herself in space down the right-hand flank. She cut inside looking for her seventh WSL goal this season, but Nilden was well-positioned to deflect her effort out for a corner. 

The game then opened up again with chances falling at both ends. A through ball found Fridolina Rolfo free in space inside the Spurs penalty area, but the Swede was unable to get a clean shot off with defenders closing her down. Up the other end, Olivia Holdt picked up a loose ball and unleashed an effort from around 20 yards out, but Tullis-Joyce was quick to drop low and parry the shot wide for a corner. 

We continued to up our tempo and came close to breaking the deadlock again. Naalsund won the ball high in midfield before supplying an eager Malard. She connected well with her effort and forced Lize Kop into her first significant involvement of the afternoon. Our no.9 came close again moments later, as her back-post header fell just wide of the goal. 

Roars were then heard from our away section at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, as Sandberg and Toone's introductions in a double change marked their returns from sideline spells. Wangerheim was soon to join the pair on the pitch too, making her own comeback from injury.

Spurs were soon to regain the control and tempo that they threatened United with in the first half, however, and a crucial block from Millie Turner maintained the deadlock following a corner. Tullis-Joyce did well in a crowd of bodies to jump highest and punch the initial delivery away, but Holdt was on hand to retrieve the loose ball, get past Rolfo and unleash a goalbound shot that needed Turner's intervention.

Chances continued to come for the home side. Ella Morris dragged an effort just wide of the post, before Tullis-Joyce stuck out a leg to deny Matilda Vinberg's near-post strike. From the resulting corner, Drew Spence had her head in her hands, after not being able to convert a ball across the face of goal, from point-blank range.

With 10 minutes left on the clock and time ticking away to find a winner, Malard tried her luck again but saw her strike blocked by Nilden. Then, after a well-worked corner, Jess Park powered a long-range attempt into the arms of Kop.

United knew the importance of taking all three points from the late-season contest and made a notable last-ditch push inside six minutes of added time, but no breakthrough would arrive.

A save at the other end from Tullis-Joyce, after Lenna Gunning-Williams got away from Maya Le Tissier and fired at the target, ensured that we would take at least a point back to Manchester.

MATCH DETAILS

Spurs: Kop; Morris, Koga, A. Nilden, Blakstad; Hamano, Spence (c); Gaupset, Holdt (Summanen 90+3), Vinberg; Tandberg (Gunning-Williams 81). 

Subs not used: Heeps, Dennis, Rybrink, Bartrip, Ahtinen, Grant, M. Nilden. 

Booked: Hamano. 

United: Tullis-Joyce; Riviere, Le Tissier (c), Turner (George 89), Lundkvist (Sandberg 63); Naalsund, Miyazawa; Park, Awujo (Malard 46), Rolfo (Wangerheim 75); Schuller (Toone 63).

Subs not used: Rendell, Middleton-Patel, Anderson. 

Booked: Sandberg, Malard.

Attendance: 7,310.