90min

Alex Morgan Scores First WSL Goal for Tottenham

By Grey Whitebloom

Alex Morgan converted an 84th minute penalty against Brighton to open her goalscoring account for Tottenham
Alex Morgan converted an 84th minute penalty against Brighton to open her goalscoring account for Tottenham / Naomi Baker/Getty Images
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Two-time World Cup winner Alex Morgan scored her first goal in English top flight football on Sunday afternoon, converting an 84th minute penalty for Tottenham Hotspur to seal a 3-1 win at home to Brighton.

Morgan was one of several high profile arrivals to join the Women's Super League (WSL) last summer. However, while the likes of her compatriots Sam Mewis and Tobin Heath have both quickly bedded into life with Manchester City and Manchester United respectively, Morgan has been eased into action.

The 31-year-old forward only made her hotly anticipated Spurs debut in November, 444 days since last taking part in a professional match after giving birth in May. So all-encompassing is Morgan's fame compared to the relatively modest status of Tottenham's women's side, that the new-recruit garnered an unholy amount of focus before even stepping foot on the pitch.

In just her third WSL appearance for Spurs, Morgan opened her goalscoring account from the penalty spot, netting Tottenham's third goal in a 3-1 win over Brighton at home. Kerys Harrop put the hosts ahead 11 minutes into the contest before Brighton's Inessa Kaagman equalised with a penalty just after the half-hour mark.

Angela Addison made it 2-1 20 minutes after the interval before Morgan added a layer of gloss to the scoreline with a coolly converted, left-footed penalty. Morgan had actually missed her first spot-kick for the Lilywhites in a Continental Cup penalty shootout against north London rivals Arsenal in mid-November, but made no mistake with her attempt on Sunday.

Prior to the match, Spurs had mustered a measly six goals from their opening seven WSL matches and were one of just two sides in the division yet to record a single victory. This dreadful start to the campaign led to the dismissal the club's two head coaches, Karen Hills and Juan Amoros the day after Tottenham's Continental Cup clash with Arsenal.

The three points earned on Sunday by incoming coach Rehanne Skinner, taking charge of her first league game since being appointed, doubled the club's paltry points tally.