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The battle for Champions League qualification took another twist on Sunday as West Ham scored an injury time goal to dent rivals Tottenham’s hopes of finishing third.
Kate Longhurst, a lifelong West Ham fan, grabbed the equaliser in the 92nd minute when the game looked beyond her side. The Hammers, who played most of the second half with 10, had not had a shot on target before the defender met Dagny Brynjarsdottir’s cross to head the ball over Tottenham goalkeeper Becky Spencer.
The goal salvaged a point for West Ham and saw Spurs drop from second to fourth. Manchester United are now third on goal difference while in-form Manchester City are just two points behind. It makes Spurs’ clash with United at Leigh Sports Village next weekend even more crucial.
Longhurst grabbed the equaliser in the 92nd minute when the game looked beyond her side
The Hammers had not had a shot on target before the defender met Dagny Brynjarsdottir’s (left) cross to head the ball over Tottenham goalkeeper Becky Spencer
It is refreshing to see the WSL wide open at the halfway stage, with everything to play for at both the top and bottom of the table.
Tottenham were made to pay for not putting this game to bed. They could have had two or three more goals after Rosella Ayane’s 54th minute penalty but their careless finishing was punished.
There was little that was pretty about this contest and the state of the pitch at The Hive was heavily criticised by West Ham boss Olli Harder before kick-off.
Tottenham could have had two or three more goals after Rosella Ayane’s 54th minute penalty (above) but their careless finishing was punished
There was little that was pretty about this contest and the state of the pitch at The Hive was heavily criticised by West Ham boss Olli Harder before kick-off
Ayane (right) had the best chance out of both teams during the first half of the game
Harder insisted the surface at The Hive was ‘not up to WSL standard’ and compared it to Hackney Marshes. Spurs ground-share with National League side Barnet, who had played Chesterfield at home 24 hours earlier.
Harder’s comments were similar to those made by Emma Hayes about Liverpool’s playing surface in 2019. The Reds play at Prenton Park, the home of League 2 club Tranmere, and Hayes described the pitch as a ‘stain on our league’.
