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Matilda Vinberg celebrated her 21st birthday on Saturday and scored her first goal on her first Tottenham start on Sunday.Matilda Vinberg's early goal made the difference as Tottenham got the better of Leicester in a tight Women's Super League encounter.
It took Tottenham less than two minutes to break the deadlock when Vinberg finished off an excellent team move, meeting a Jessica Naz delivery at the back post.
Drew Spence, returning from illness on Sunday, nearly doubled Spurs' lead soon when her long-range effort cannoned off the crossbar.
Tottenham had the brighter start but Leicester responded well in a very open game, forcing Rebecca Spencer to make saves to keep Spurs ahead.
Spencer produced an excellent double-stop to deny Aileen Whelan and Lena Petermann, while she also reacted quickly to turn a curling Yuka Momiki effort around the post.
It remained close after the break, with Jutta Rantala nearly equalising for Leicester when she rattled the inside of the near post from a tight angle, but Tottenham managed to see out the win.
Bethany England nearly made it two for Tottenham in added time when she turned a Kit Graham delivery past Lize Kop, but her goal was ruled out for offside.
The two meet again in just under a month's time when Spurs host Leicester at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the Women's FA Cup semi-finals on Sunday, 14 April.
Tottenham get the better of tight encounter
Both sides came into this game riding the wave of reaching the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time and the two were evenly-matched on Sunday.
They were both attacking-minded, playing direct football to try and get the better of the opposition defence rather than sitting back to hold possession.
It made for an exciting encounter, and a difficult test for both defences.
The opening goal was the perfect example of the dangerous counter-attacks deployed by both sides, a delivery from the Tottenham goalkeeper working its way to Naz, who sent in the final cross, after just two passes in the build-up.
Leicester's Japanese midfield duo of Momiki and Saori Takarada were an important creative presence, drawing runs from the Spurs defenders and linking play for the visitors in the final third.
Finnish striker Rantala, who scored both of Leicester's goals in their 2-0 victory over Liverpool last weekend, tried to find spaces inside the Spurs box and was inches away from levelling when she hit the woodwork in the second half.
One of these will reach the FA Cup final for the first time when they play next month - if this game is anything to go by then a thrilling semi-final is on the cards.
Line-ups
Tottenham Women
Formation 4-3-3
- 22Spencer
- 29NevilleBooked at 63mins
- 4James-Turner
- 21Bühler
- 6Nildén
- 8ClintonSubstituted forPetzelbergerat 66'minutesBooked at 83mins
- 24SpenceSubstituted forGrahamat 45'minutes
- 25SummanenSubstituted forAhtinenat 79'minutes
- 13VinbergSubstituted forAyaneat 54'minutes
- 7Naz
- 14Bizet IldhusøyBooked at 45minsSubstituted forEnglandat 54'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Votíková
- 2Grant
- 9England
- 10Brazil
- 11Petzelberger
- 16Graham
- 20Ahtinen
- 23Ayane
- 77Wang
Leicester City Women
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 23Kop
- 4Bott
- 5Howard
- 17ThibaudSubstituted forGreenat 71'minutes
- 11CaymanBooked at 73minsSubstituted forNevinat 85'minutes
- 15Takarada
- 10Whelan
- 3Tierney
- 29MomikiSubstituted forPelganderat 71'minutesBooked at 88mins
- 8Rantala
- 9PetermannSubstituted forRoseat 66'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Leitzig
- 2Nevin
- 6Palmer
- 7Rose
- 14Green
- 18Pelgander
- 19Siemsen
- 20Goodwin
- 32Baker
Live Text
Match ends, Tottenham Hotspur Women 1, Leicester City Women 0.
Second Half ends, Tottenham Hotspur Women 1, Leicester City Women 0.
Offside, Tottenham Hotspur Women. Bethany England is caught offside.
Josie Green (Leicester City Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Rosella Ayane (Tottenham Hotspur Women).
Hand ball by Sam Tierney (Leicester City Women).
Foul by Emilia Pelgander (Leicester City Women).
Jessica Naz (Tottenham Hotspur Women) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Attempt blocked. Ramona Petzelberger (Tottenham Hotspur Women) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Attempt saved. Bethany England (Tottenham Hotspur Women) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Kit Graham.
Emilia Pelgander (Leicester City Women) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Emilia Pelgander (Leicester City Women).
Jessica Naz (Tottenham Hotspur Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Leicester City Women. Courtney Nevin replaces Janice Cayman.
Attempt blocked. Jutta Rantala (Leicester City Women) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Ramona Petzelberger (Tottenham Hotspur Women) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Catherine Bott (Leicester City Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Ramona Petzelberger (Tottenham Hotspur Women).
Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur Women. Olga Ahtinen replaces Eveliina Summanen.
Foul by Sophie Howard (Leicester City Women).
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