Tottenham Hotspur

Chelsea Women vs Spurs Women | Extended Highlights | 2025/26  Tottenham Hotspur

Eveliina Summanen painted a disappointment figure following our 2-1 defeat at Chelsea on Monday afternoon as that brought an end to our Adobe Women’s FA Cup journey at the quarter-final stage – but acknowledged the much-improved second half performance.

Finding ourselves one goal down at the break, after Sam Kerr headed home for the hosts five minutes before half time, we knew a response was needed in the second period and, for a third consecutive match, we got one at Kingsmeadow.

The Finland international was at the heart of it. Her in-swinging free-kick from the far left-hand side looping over everyone inside the box, including Hannah Hampton, and finding the top corner to get us back on level terms seven minutes after the restart.

Both sides had opportunities for the rest of the half, where we pushed the Blues all the way, but four minutes from time, Veerle Buurman unleashed a powerful strike into the top corner to send Chelsea through to the final four of the competition.

“Obviously disappointed,” Eveliina Summanen told us, reflecting on the outcome. “I think, in the second half, we did good things and we were really on top of the game and had a good momentum, but Chelsea is a good team, they had a couple of good chances and deserved the win at the end of the day, but obviously disappointed.

“We came into the second half with way more confidence than in first half, where we stayed quite a lot in our defensive block, which was ok still and we're willing to do that - that's how we want to be and if we have to do that, then we do it.

“But, second half, we forced Chelsea to play some longer balls and give us the possession and we enjoyed the ball a little bit. Then, at the same time, we need to utilise a little bit more on those situations.”

Although that stretched our winless run to four games in all competitions, there were positives to take from the clash with the Blues and with just three matches left to play in the campaign, Eveliina wants to make sure we ‘bounce back’ from the difficult results in recent weeks and give something back to the fans.

“It's been tough,” the midfielder added. “We've also played good teams, but we have high ambitions and we need to perform better as well if we want to reach the gap between us and the top teams. I think you need to take every single game as a part of the journey and we're still doing the right things.

“We're still playing the way I like, exciting football, and we want to improve all the time. Like today, it could have gone either way at the end of the day and I think that's what's exciting for the future as well.

“We want to bounce back from these tough couple of weeks and just end the season on a high. Just give a little bit to our fans as well because they've shown a great support for the past few weeks and we obviously want to give back a little bit as well.”

Our Under-18s travel to West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday lunchtime on what could be a key day in the Under-18 Premier League title race.

As it stands, our youngsters lead the table by one point from Chelsea, who closed the gap with a 2-0 home win over Crystal Palace on Saturday and still have a game in hand.

On Tuesday, as we take on the Baggies in the West Midlands in what will be our first competitive game at this level for two-and-a-half weeks (kick-off 12pm), the Blues will host Arsenal at the same time, offering the potential for either side to take the upper hand in what has thus far been a gripping battle for the chance to top the pile at the end of the season.

The most recent league outing for Jamie Carr’s side was a 3-0 victory at Leicester City on 21 March, with a handful of players having been away on international duty in the intervening time.

Martin Ho felt that the group had given him ‘absolutely everything’ as we suffered late heartbreak in our Adobe Women’s FA Cup quarter-final tie at Chelsea, with Veerle Buurman securing a 2-1 win at Kingsmeadow.

The Chelsea defender struck a wicked but precise left-footed strike into the top corner to earn the Blues a spot in the semi-final of the competition, having done superbly in the early stages of the second period to get us back on level terms.

Eveliina Summanen’s wonderful free-kick from the far left-hand side looping over Hannah Hampton to cancel out Sam Kerr’s opener in the final five minutes of the first half – and we had chances to take the lead through the second 45 minutes, but we were unable to breakthrough once again.

However, it is Chelsea that will progress in the prestigious cup competition but, despite the narrow defeat, our Head Coach was pleased with certain aspects from the performance – highlighting a need for a clinical edge in the final third.

“I thought it was good for large parts,” Martin told us, reflecting on the game with SPURSPLAY. “We frustrated them in large parts in terms of how we set up, when we engaged and when we didn't. With the ball, we had some moments where we could have been a little bit tighter and a little bit cleaner with some of the link-up play and some of the detail in terms of when we were trying to get the ball down and play.

“Then, just in the attack and play, being a bit more ruthless but what I can't do is I can't ask anymore. They gave me everything and they've built on the performance as we had last. They've made it really difficult for Chelsea today and it takes a wonder strike from one of their players to win the game.”

Reflecting on the character to fightback in the second half after the late goal in the first half, he added: “We went behind and we won't be happy with that. It comes from us turning the ball over and then we get punished.

“Then we come out in the second half and there was a response. We were more precise and more effective with our play, Eve puts a wonderful ball in from the free-kick and that gets you back on terms. I thought we had momentum then for another 10-15 minutes.

“We really pushed them back and kept them in their half, maybe some learnings of when we go in the box with the ball, that final action as we cross and we try to link and finish. But I couldn't have asked any more. I'm gutted for the group. They've given absolutely everything today.”

With three games left of the campaign to play once the international break is over, Martin was asked what he wants to see from his side in the closing stages. He told us: “I want to see the same intent, the same fight, whether there's competition in terms of the Cup to play for, there are still three games that we need to win. We need to go into those games because the way we finish the season will be the way we start the next one. We need to build on that momentum.

"This really shows the character in the group and the kind of professionalism of us as a team on how we approach these next three games because the season is not finished until the middle of May and we can't just sit back now because we're not in these cup competitions.”

It was late heartbreak for us against Chelsea in the quarter-finals of the Women's FA Cup at Kingsmeadow on Sunday.

Having fought our way back into the tie and levelled via Eveliina Summanen's free-kick, Chelsea substitute Veerle Buurman lashed home the winner five minutes from time.

There was still a chance to level, but Oliva Holdt dragged across goal from 16 yards in the first minute of added time - and that was that.

On a positive note, Ella Morris returned to action for the first time since May, 2025 after recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Martin Ho made three changes - Julie Blakstad and Eveliina Summanen came in for Molly Bartrip and Maika Hamano (ineligible) while skipper Bethany England was back up front for Olivia Holdt. As mentioned, Ella Morris returned to the matchday squad for the first time this season.

We had to weather early pressure from the home side. Lize Kop got her angles right to deny Alyssa Thompson on five minutes and then had to be alert as Lauren James' cross evaded everyone and was creeping in before she touched wide.

James pulled the strings for Chelsea - Amanda Nilden threw herself in for a key block on 19 minutes and the England international fired a yard over from the edge of the box five minutes later.

We grew into the game and had the next chances of note. A lovely build up ended with Bethany England playing a one-two with Cathinka Tandberg, only for Niamh Charles to block. Next up, Signe Gaupset left fly from 20 yards, her shot taking a slight deflection but straight at Hannah Hampton.

Chelsea broke the deadlock on 40 minutes. Keira Walsh got to the left byline and found a cross that just evaded Kop, allowing Kerr to climb highest and angle home a header off the post from close range.

We started positively in the second half - possession 74% in our favour in the first 15 minutes - and levelled during that spell. Maltilda Vinberg was bundled over by Kadeisha Buchanan on the left touchline - Summanen's free-kick deceived Hampton and floated home at the far post.

It turned into a basketball game, end-to-end for the next 10 minutes. Kop denied Kerr one-on-one, James went close again, Toko Kogo cleared Hanna Wijk's header off the line, Kop denied James again and Ellie Carpenter headed wide from six yards.

At the other end - all in this 10-minute spell - Hampton spilled Amanda Nilden's 30-yarder wide, Julie Blakstad headed wide and Tandberg almost capitalised on hesitation between Hampton and Buchanan.

We continued to defend well and looked to get forward. Chelsea had the next chance when Kop flew to her left to tip away Sandy Baltimore's shot on 78 minutes. However, Kop could do nothing about what turned out to be the decisive moment on 86 minutes. For once, we failed to clear our lines cleanly and when the loose ball fell to Buurman, she took a step forward before hitting a rocket into the top corner.

There was one last chance as Holdt drove forward from deep to the edge of the Chelsea box, rolled the ball right to Tandberg who fired across Hampton but wide of the target.

We can now confirm the starting XI and substitutes for this afternoon’s Adobe Women’s FA Cup quarter-final tie against Chelsea at Kingsmeadow (1.30pm UK).

Martin Ho has made three changes to the side that started last weekend’s north London derby against Arsenal in the Women’s Super League.

Julie Blakstad comes back in for Molly Bartrip while Eveliina Summanen returns to the midfield in place of Maika Hamano, who is ineligible to face her parent club as part of the loan agreement.

Captain Bethany England comes into the attack in place of Olivia Holdt, who is named amongst our substitutes alongside Molly.

Ella Morris is in the matchday squad for the first time this season after recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury in May, 2025. Fellow defender Charlotte Grant also returns to the substitutes bench after missing the fixture against the Gunners.

Starting XI: Kop, A. Nilden, Gaupset, England (c), Vinberg, Tandberg, Wijk, Spence, Summanen, Koga, Blakstad.

Substitutes: Heeps, Grant, Morris, Bartrip, Holdt, Rybrink, M. Nilden, Gunning-Williams, Ahtinen.

Roberto De Zerbi has given us a glance into his footballing philosophy – but insists now is the time to concentrate on mentality and winning games with his first game as Head Coach a week away.

Indeed, Roberto spoke about the importance of ‘reaching the best mentality’ as we prepare for our trip to Sunderland’s Stadium of Light in the Premier League on Sunday week, 12 April (2pm UK). That’s the first of seven matches remaining as the players focus on climbing the table.

“It's not the right moment to speak about my philosophy for football,” Roberto told us in his first interview last week. “I’m here now at the end of the season because we have to win the games.

“In football, the style of play, the tactical disposition are important. There is a mentality and I would like to help the players to reach the best mentality we can show. I signed five years of contract because, for me, it's a big challenge and I will be the coach of Tottenham next season, no matter what.

“I love keeping the ball, I love possession, I love great chances to score, but at the same time, I love 11 defenders when we have not the ball, because in this time of football, we have to attack with 11 players, with the goalkeeper as well, and we have to defend with 11 players when the ball is not for us.

“In this moment, we have no time to work too much on more principles, but we have to know what we have to do on the pitch. We have to have a good organisation, with the ball, without the ball. We have to consider the qualities of the players. We are lucky - I am lucky - because I have big players with big talent and my work is to help the players to show their qualities.”

Watch | Roberto gets to work at Hotspur Way

We continue our Adobe Women’s FA Cup journey on Monday with a trip to Chelsea at Kingsmeadow in the quarter-final tie.

Having overcome Leicester City and London City Lionesses in the previous rounds, this will be our fourth appearance in the quarter-final of the competition. The Blues reached this stage after a 2-1 win over Manchester United last time out.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the London derby in the competition…

What time does the match start?

The game begins at 1.30pm UK time.

How can I watch the game?

The match will be televised live in the UK on Channel 4, TNT Sports 1 and HBO Max.

As ever, our Match Centre here on tottenhamhotspur.com and the Spurs Official app will bring you full live text throughout the game as well, ensuring you won’t miss any of the action.

Video highlights will be available on club channels on Tuesday at midday.

What is team news?

Maika Hamano will be unavailable for the game as she’s ineligible to face her parent club under the terms of the loan deal with Chelsea.

But, apart from that, our Head Coach will have the same squad that faced Arsenal in Women’s Super League last time out in contention for our trip to Kingsmeadow.

Meanwhile, Jess Naz, Maite Oroz, Luana Buhler and Clare Hunt remain long-term absentees and remain sidelined.

As for Chelsea, with Aggie Beever-Jones and Mayra Ramirez sidelined, they will also be without Johanna Rytting Kanerdy for the clash at Kingsmeadow.

Who is the referee?

Stacey Pearson will take charge of Monday’s game.

She will be assisted by Anastasiya Voloshchuk and Georgia Ball, with Alice Parker as the fourth official.

Our Women’s Under-19s will travel to Fulham in the semi-finals of the Women’s Capital Cup.

The tie will take place at Motspur Park on Sunday 19 April, kick-off 2pm.

The two sides met in pre-season at Fulham’s training at the beginning of the campaign, where our youngsters suffered a 3-1 defeat to the Cottagers.

We progressed to the last four of the competition after an impressive 5-2 win over London Bees in the quarter-final on Thursday (2 April) night, with Grace Bellwood netting a 13-minute hat-trick in the second half.

Mason Melia marked his Spurs debut with a goal to help our Under-21s come back from behind to beat West Ham United 3-2 at Hotspur Way on Saturday.

The 18-year-old striker, who joined us from St Patrick’s Athletic at the turn of the year, stepped off the bench in the second half for his long-awaited first appearance in our colours and took less than three minutes to find the net, converting Calum Logan’s excellent delivery to make it 2-2, with a subsequent own goal from West Ham defender Callum Leacock completing the turnaround in a scrappy, wind-swept encounter with our London rivals.

Another mid-season arrival, James Wilson, had fired us ahead in the opening stages but the visitors turned the scoreline on its head through Josh Ajala and Dan Cummings to lead at the break, and had a number of chances to extend their lead without punishing us, Preston Fearon rattling the crossbar and goalkeeper Carey Bloedorn pulling off a string of brave stops.

We rode our luck at times, but ultimately made a welcome return to winning ways after three straight defeats in the Premier League 2, the result boosting our hopes of finishing in the top 16 and securing an end-of-season play-off berth.

Blustery winds were always going to be a factor in our first game back after the international break but after a couple of near misses from Tynan Thompson, we forged ahead on 18 minutes when Dante Cassanova stepped in to win the ball with West Ham passing it around at the back, in doing so sending Wilson through to convert beyond Hooper one-v-one.

Wilson could have had a second moments later but saw Hooper beat away his angled drive, with the visitors subsequently beginning to threaten more as we struggled to take a firm grip on the game. Bloedorn dived at the feet of Cummings and left-back Maeson King blocked Fearson’s effort, but King couldn’t prevent Ajala from firing in from the right angle to equalise on 33 minutes, Bloedorn also getting a touch but unable to keep it out.

The keeper made a good stop on his line to deny Ajala a second after a sloppy mistake at the back, but two minutes before the break the Hammers were in front as their goalscorer turned provider, Ajala getting away from the sliding challenge of Luca Furnell-Gill down their left side before cutting back for Cummings to plant home inside the near post.

A tactical change at the break for us saw Logan introduced in place of Pele Arganese-McDermott but the visitors continued to have chances, Lewis Orford’s looping effort saved by Bloedorn, Fearon hitting the bar from the edge of the box, substitute Gabriel Caliste flashing a good chance wide and the persistent Orford being thwarted by a combination of King and Bloedorn. The keeper later denied Cummings and Fearson at the back post before seeing a long-range effort from Rayan Oyebade just over the top.

The introduction of Melia gave us more of a physical presence up front, the striker bringing a large amount of experience after netting 25 goals in 98 senior games in Ireland prior to his move to north London. Having been sidelined through injury since his arrival, he made an immediate impact off the bench, going through in the right channel in his first action of the game but firing over from distance. However, on 70 minutes he hauled us back level, arriving in the middle of the box to bundle home Logan’s fine low delivery from the left flank.

Eight minutes later, we were ahead once more as Reiss Russell-Denny did brilliantly to get away from danger down the right side and cut in along the byline before his low ball into the centre went in off Leacock, with Malachi Hardy in close proximity. Melia could have doubled his tally when he combined with Russell-Denny down the right side but Hooper was equal to the striker’s fierce effort, while West Ham almost snatched another leveller in the sixth minute of added time when the ball landed kindly for Joshua Briggs in the box, but he could only find the side-netting as we escaped with maximum points.

‘We allowed West Ham too many opportunities’

Under-21s Coach Wayne Burnett was disappointed with the team’s display, in spite of the final outcome: “The performance wasn’t very good at all,” he told SPURSPLAY. “I thought we struggled to gain any real control and they had too many opportunities. The result was a good one, we showed character and personality, but from a performance perspective I didn’t think it was good enough today. We didn’t play in the way in which I know we can, we allowed West Ham too many opportunities, I didn’t think we created enough opportunities and I thought we were a little bit fortunate to come away with the win if I’m being honest. I didn’t think we played with any rhythm or fluidity, so from a performance point of view it’s very disappointing. From a result point of view, yes, we showed character and we showed some personality, so I can’t be displeased with that.”

On Melia’s goalscoring debut, Wayne added: “It’s very positive. He’s come in and worked incredibly hard, he had a bit of a setback when he first arrived so it’s his first minutes today, we’re really pleased, we know he can score goals, he’s got a record for scoring goals and I think he’s going to help this team.”