Man United move top of WSL in win over Tottenham despite Ella Toone red card

Updated: Oct 12, 2023, 10:21 am
Manchester United condemned Tottenham to a seventh-consecutive defeat on Sunday.
Morgan Harlow - MUFC/Manchester United via Getty Images

Manchester United edged to a 2-1 away win over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday despite a late red card for forward Ella Toone, moving them top of the Women's Super League on Sunday.

United opened the scoring though Leah Galton before WSL record signing Bethany England scored with a superb solo run and finish to level the scores. The visitors' lead was restored seconds later through a Molly Bartrip own goal, although Toone's dismissal on 80 minutes made for a tense end.

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Sunday's victory means United move into first place having played one more than Chelsea who drop to second, while Spurs' losing run extends to seven.

Penned back into their own defensive third over the first 10 minutes, the hosts struggled against the United press and easily could have been down when Galton raced in behind but the forward could only find the top of the bar. The United winger was involved again later in the half with the hosts given a let off when her header that hit the upright and in was ruled out for a narrow offside.

Spurs had a great chance to take the lead when Ashleigh Neville and England linked up with the latter unable to keep her shot down as she broke into the box.

The best chance for a goal early in the half came through Toone when the attacker cut in from the right but could only strike the far post with her low effort.

United came into the ascendancy in the second half and continued to flood the oppositon box, and the pressure paid off after the hour mark when Galton slammed the ball home from close range.

The game fast ramped up after Spurs equalised with a superb solo effort from England, who carried the ball into the attacking half before arrowing the ball across Mary Earps' goal. United instantly retook the lead when substitute Lucia Garcia whipped a cross into the box that Bartrip helplessly volleyed beyond her own goalkeeper.

The visitors were swiftly reduced to 10 players when Toone was shown a straight red for raising her hands to Eveliina Summanen after the two had tangled near the touchline. With just 10 minutes to make their numerical advantage count, Spurs fast ran out of time with Earps denying them their best chance before the full-time whistle.

Elsewhere on Sunday, Brighton broke the deadlock through forward Julia Zigiotti but soon suffered an onslaught from Aston Villa who scored three goals in just eight minutes to dominant 6-2 victory, including a hat trick from Jordan Nobbs.

Meanwhile, Leicester City gave their survival hopes a boost with a narrow 1-0 win away to Liverpool.

Bottom-place Leicester took the lead through Hannah Cain strike on eight minutes and held on despite a late barrage of attacks from Liverpool as they claimed a crucial three points -- moving to one point behind 11th-placed Reading.