FA Cup: Late Tottenham comeback blunts Blades hopes | OneFootball

Tottenham are through the fifth round of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup but had to come from 2-0 down against a determined Sheffield United. Robert Vilahamn’s team were given an almighty scare when the Blades took the lead after just 13 minutes.

There was a debut for Australian international Charli Grant at left-back for Spurs, while fellow new signing Matilda Vinberg was on the bench.

Starting XIs

Tottenham Hotspur

Votíková; Neville, Summanen, Bartrip, Grant, Naz, Bizet, Zhang, Petzelberger, Graham, England

Sheffield United

Stenson; Brown, Bourne, Newsham, Docherty, Barker, Kinzett, Hodson, Haywood, Sigsworth, Rayner

How it went

Sheffield United — who sit eighth in the Championship — started well and created the first real chance of the game, but Rebecca Rayner’s effort was deflected wide by Ramona Petzelberger. Jonathan Morgan’s side were clearly looking to unsettle Tottenham. They pressed them in numbers and gave the WSL side no time on the ball.

In the eighth minute, the crowd rose as one for a minute’s applause in memory of former Blade Maddy Cusack, who passed away in September.

The visitors were rewarded for their bright start, taking the lead after 13 minutes. Sophie Haywood converted from close range after Tara Bourne nodded a free-kick back across the Tottenham goal.

Blades goalkeeper Fran Stenson denied Tottenham an equaliser after 20 minutes, superbly tipping over a header from Petzelberger.

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Another chance came and went for Spurs just before half an hour when Jess Naz could only hit the post. The last chance of the half fell to the player Tottenham would most want in Beth England. But she could only fire over under close attention from Bourne.

The half-time whistle brought an end to a disappointing first 45 minutes for Tottenham in their FA Cup battle. Sheffield United’s game plan was working incredibly well.

After a performance from the Tottenham Beat Boxers and a hugely disappointing half-time sausage roll, we were back for the second half.

The second half

A double substitution and a change of shape from Tottenham in the second half to a 3-5-2 didn’t improve things. Within six minutes of the restart, Sheffield United doubled their lead.

Ashley Hodson ghosted past Ellie Brazil — on as a second-half sub and playing right wing-back — and let fly with a brilliant curling shot that hit the post with Barbora Votíková rooted to the spot. Jess Sigsworth picked up the pieces and slotted home the rebound to leave Tottenham with a mountain to climb.

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With 66 minutes gone, Vilahamn rolled the dice again. He made a triple sub and another change of formation, this time to a 4-2-3-1.

The changes had an instant impact. It was one of the half-time changes in Angharad James who threaded a perfectly weighted ball through for Beth England, who slid home past the advancing Stenson to half the deficit.

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With 11 minutes to go, the hosts were given a golden opportunity to restore parity when Naz was fouled in the box for a penalty. England stepped up and made no mistake to send Stenson the wrong way and level the game at 2-2.

It then became all Spurs as they looked to capitalise on the momentum they’d been building. Stenson was called into action to brilliantly deny James and Olga Ahtinen in quick succession as the home side went in search of a winner.

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It was nearly the Blades who won it, however, but Jodie Hutton was denied by Votíková deep into stoppage time. That save from the Czechia international proved crucial.

With virtually the last kick of the game, Spurs completed the comeback thanks to Ahtinen’s brilliant through ball, which was dispatched superbly by Ayane. She controlled the ball and lifted it over Stenson to break Sheffield United’s hearts and send Tottenham through to the FA Cup fifth round.

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