Late Spurs goal can’t save them from 2-1 defeat to Seagulls to end their 100% winning WSL record

By Football Reporter

Brighton 2 Tottenham Hotspur 1

Goals from Lee Geum-min and Victoria Williams helped Brighton & Hove Albion past previously unbeaten Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 in the Barclays FA Women’s Super League.

Heading into the game, Spurs had opened the new WSL season undefeated, having won all four of their games.

But goals from Geum-min and Williams ended Spurs’ unbeaten run to move Brighton fifth in the WSL standings.

The opening stages of action the People’s Pension Stadium were scrappy, with neither side settling into the contest easily.

On 18 minutes, Spurs right-back Ashleigh Neville was gifted a free header in the box, but the defender glanced her effort well wide, handing Brighton a reprieve.

Then two minutes later, Neville went close again, this time drilling a half-volley on the edge of the area which produced a super save from Seagulls keeper Megan Walsh.

Brighton’s first real chances of the half came through Geum-min and Inessa Kaagman, with the latter seeing her chipped effort strike the crossbar on 34 minutes, much to Spurs keeper Rebecca Spencer’s relief.

However, her relief was short lived when Geum-min struck minutes later with a low driven effort to give Brighton the lead.

And the South Korean forward should have doubled the Seagulls lead on the stroke of half-time, but her effort was saved by Spencer’s legs.

After the interval, Brighton went close to again doubling their lead through Danielle Carter, who like Kaagman, rattled the cross bar.

Carter then went close again on 65 minutes, capitalising on a mistake from Spurs left back Kerys Harrop, but her shot was saved by Spencer at her near post with ease.

Having been booked after just three minutes, Spurs talisman Rachel Williams needed to be careful to avoid another booking.

Unfortunately for the forward however, she picked up a second yellow on 76 minutes after an aerial challenge on Felicity Gibbons left the latter down receiving treatment, leaving Spurs down to 10 for the final throes of action.

Brighton then doubled their lead on 85 minutes through centre back Victoria Williams, who prodded home her blocked rebound past Spencer to make it 2-0.

Hope Powell’s side looked to have wrapped up all three points.

However, a minute after they went 2-0 up, Spurs grabbed one back through Kit Graham, who fought her way through the Seagulls defence to fire home past Walsh.

But while Graham’s goal set up a nervy final few minutes for Powell’s side, they eventually managed to come through a tense ending to take all three points in what was an exciting WSL clash.

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

Brighton manager Hope Powell: "It was a good win and I thought no more than we deserved, we created a lot of chances and on another day could have had more goals.

"We had to be quite resilient at times and it got a bit tetchy but we matched them in that respect and I'm glad we came out winners.

"Credit to Tottenham, even with ten they punished us for not being switched on and after they got one back they went for broke and we had to defend well, which we did."

"We have a Conti Cup game on Wednesday at Birmingham City and it's a competition we want to do well in.

"But it's great for us, it will put us on a real high going into the international break and the time will give us the opportunity for a few players to rest little niggles, but we've got another big game first at St Andrew's and we'll concentrate on that first."

Brighton & Hove Albion (4-3-3): Megan Walsh; Emma Koivisto, Maya Le Tissier, Victoria Williams, Felicity Gibbons; Inessa Kaagman, Ellie Brazil, Emily Simpkins; Danielle Carter, Lee Geum-min, Aileen Whelan

Substitutes: Megan Connolly for Simpkins on 59, Maisie Symonds for Geum-min on 73, Kayleigh Green for Inessa Kaagman on 82

Substitutes not used: Fran Stenson, Danique Kerkdijk, Rinsola Babajide, Libby Bance, Katie Robinson, Frances Angel

Goals: Lee Geum-Min 37, Williams 86

Bookings: Megan Connolly 70, Kayleigh Green 82,

Red Cards:

Tottenham Hotspur (4-2-3-1): Rebecca Spencer; Ashleigh Neville, Molly Bartrip, Shelina Zadorsky, Kerys Harrop; Ria Percival, Maéva Clemaron; Rosella Ayane, Kit Graham, Chioma Ubogagu; Rachel Williams

Substitutes: Cho So-hyun for Clemaron on 46, Angela Addison for Ayane on 56, Asmita Ale for Kerys Harrop on 74, Jiali Tang for Ubogagu on 74

Substitutes not used: Tinja-Riikka Korpela, Esther Morgan, Josie Green, Jessica Naz, Kyah Simon

Goals: Graham 88

Bookings: Rachel Williams 3, 76,

Red Cards: Rachel Williams 76

Referee: Kirsty Doyle