Three goals in final five minutes see Spurs draw 2-2 at Everton

By Football Reporter

Spurs twice lost the lead as Everton claimed a pulsating 2-2 draw which saw three goals scored in the last 10 minutes.

Megan Finnigan and Danielle Turner both equalised in the closing stages as the Toffees showed character to avoid defeat for the second time in seven games.

Spurs led for 85 minutes through Asmita Ale’s early strike and looked to have kept the three points when Josie Green cancelled out Turner’s effort within seconds.

The visitors made a perfect start on five minutes when Rachel Williams played Eveliina Summanen through on goal and she unselfishly squared for Ale to score.

Everton responded well to conceding as both Toni Duggan and Anna Anvegård narrowly failed to guide headed efforts on target.

A see-saw contest took another turn and Spurs would have doubled their lead were it not for a stunning save from Courtney Brosnan to deny Williams’ drive.

Swedish international striker Anvegård was once again lively in the final third as she latched on to a loose ball and fired a dipping effort wide of the post.

Spurs could have put the game to bed when Rosella Ayane played a deft one-two with Williams and tried to chip Brosnan, only for the Irish stopper to tip the ball onto the crossbar.

There was little sign of the frantic finish that would ensue as Everton lifted hopeful ball after hopeful ball into the box from set pieces.

They pulled level when Kenza Dali’s deep ball into the six-yard box was bravely nodded home by Turner.

Spurs equalised straight from the kick off as substitute Green collected Jessica Naz’s pass from the right byline and slid a cool finish in from close range.

Everton weren’t done there and struck again minutes later when Finnigan arrived at the back post and planted a towering header past Becky Spencer.

There was nearly yet another twist to the tale as Maeva Clemaron forced Brosnan into another flying save with a free-kick on the very edge of the area.

The upshot of all the drama was not much when it comes to the Barclays FA Women’s Super League table.

Spurs strengthened their grip on fifth place and Everton, onto their third management team of a turbulent season, lie tenth.

To follow the action and sign up for The FA Player’s live Barclays FA Women’s Super League coverage visit womenscompetitions.thefa.com

Everton interim manager Chris Roberts said: “I was happy with large aspects of the performance. The first goal was really preventable, and then obviously we worked really hard to get back in the game. It was a really even first half, I felt.

“Second half I thought we controlled it for most of the game, loads of territory, started to turn that into good opportunities and then we get the reward of the goal, but then the light gets sucked out of you conceding straight almost from kick-off just after getting back in the game.

“What I will say is the fight and determination, the desire from the group to then come back again to get that second goal and get us points is huge for us. Before the game I would have been disappointed by a draw, but I think 2-1 down with so few minutes left in the game and getting the point, obviously that feels good.”

Tottenham Hotspur head coach Rehanne Skinner said: “The team put in really solid performances in every single one of the games this week. Obviously we got ourselves into a really positive position going ahead twice, just think we’ve obviously switched off and conceded the goal at a crucial time.

“So whilst we’re really disappointed that we’re not taking the win out of the game, given the volume of chances that we’ve had, it’s positive that we’ve created those chances. But ultimately a draw on the road right now, at the end of a tough week, I think is a fantastic point for us in this league.

“We wanted to finish higher than where we were last year and obviously at this moment in time it’s looking positive that we are, so that’s obviously a really great achievement for the team, but we’ve still got two games left.”

Everton: Courtney Brosnan; Leonie Maier; Nathalie Bjorn; Gabby George; Megan Finnigan; Poppy Pattinson; Lucy Graham; Hanna Bennison; Toni Duggan; Simone Magill; Anna Anvegard

Substitutes used: Kenza Dali for Anvegard 62’; Danielle Turner for Magill 71’; Claire Emslie for Duggan 71’

Substitutes not used: Grace Clinton; Sandy MacIver; Kenzie Weir

Goals: Turner 85’; Finnigan 90+1’

Head coach: Chris Roberts

Tottenham Hotspur: Rebecca Spencer; Kerys Harrop; Shelina Zadorsky; Molly Bartrip; Asmita Ale; Ashleigh Neville; Maeva Clemaron; Rachel Williams; Eveliina Summanen; Rosella Ayane; Jiali Tang

Substitutes used: Cho So-Hyun for Harrop 46’; Jessica Naz for Jiali 46’; Kyah Simon for Williams 79’; Josie Green for Summanen 84’

Substitutes not used: Tinja-Riikka Korpela; Isabella Lane; Angela Addison

Goals: Ale 5’; Green 85’

Bookings: Clemaron 45+3’

Coach: Rehanne Skinner

Referee: Lauren Impey