Tottenham Hotspur had a chance to get a statement win at home against a quality opponent when they hosted London City at Brisbane Road on Sunday. Instead, they ran into a buzz-saw. London City, powered by a bevy of newly-signed talent, shocked Spurs with an early goal by Danielle van de Donk, who scored a brace, and pressed Spurs into oblivion on the first half, running out to a 4-0 lead. Spurs pulled a goal back via Victoria Pelova in the second half, but it was definitely not their day. London City were deserved winners, added late goals from Diani and Cascarino and established themselves as potential title contenders with a statement win over a quality Spurs side.
London City started the match with an extremely high energy and high intensity press, and it paid off almost immediately — an uncharacteristic giveaway from Toko Koga led to a well-saved shot by Kop on Van De Donk, but the rebound fell to Alexia Putellas, who slotted it home for the early lead. Spurs looked rattled with London City not giving Spurs time to breathe on the ball, but they settled more into the match a quarter hour in.
Spurs had a couple of half chances in London City’s box but couldn’t turn them into real chances. And then London capitalized — Spurs’ defense broke down allowing Putellas to put a simple cross across the face of goal for Kadidiatou Diani to tap in unmarked, putting the visitors up 2-0 inside a half hour.
London City made Spurs’ day even worse at 34’ when Alexia fired home a third goal from a simple cutback. Tottenham looked absolutely outclassed in the first half, with London City playing like potential title contenders. Spurs’ best chance came just before halftime; Julie Blakstad forced a fantastic one-handed save from City keeper Elene Lete who tipped the shot off the post and out. London City took a 3-0 lead into halftime.
The second half started much in the same way as the first, with former Arsenal attacker Danielle van de Donk bundling in an early chance, her second of the match, to put Spurs down 0-4. But Victoria Pelova gave Tottenham a bit of hope with an immediate response, firing home a cross from Julie Blakstad to put Spurs on the scoreboard. Matilda Vinberg had a golden chance to cut the lead even further minutes later, but couldn’t direct the Olivia Holt cross on target.
Diani made the score 1-5 after Lize Kop rushed out and had a clearance blocked by Diani, which fell right to her feet and allowed her to tap into an empty net. That was pretty much the end of any chance Spurs had to engineer an admittedly unlikely comeback. Delphine Cascarino piled on the misery with an injury time goal for London City, and Spurs were left to lick their wounds. The final score was 1-6.
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