Tottenham 1-3 Chelsea: Player ratings as 10-player Blues edge closer to WSL title
By Ali Rampling
Chelsea demonstrated the mentality of champions as they edged closer to the WSL title with a battling 3-1 victory over Tottenham, despite playing over an hour with 10 players.
Ann-Katrin Berger saw red for Chelsea in the first half with the scores level at 1-1 following Sophie Ingle's own goal and Guro Reiten's dinked finish. Despite their one-player deficit, Sam Kerr and Jessie Fleming netted in the second half to earn a crucial three points for the Blues.
It was Spurs who took a shock lead after 14 minutes, Molly Bartrip unleashing her inner 'Katie Zelem' and clattering the post direct from a corner. The ball rebounded onto the knee of the unfortunate Ingle and bounced into the net.
But Spurs' surprise advantage lasted just 11 minutes as Chelsea levelled through Reiten. The Norwegian winger produced an electric turn of pace to burn past Ashleigh Neville, and her cross-shot found the top corner.
Kerr looked to have been presented with a golden opportunity to put Chelsea ahead as she capitalised on a loose Tottenham back pass and raced clean through, only to comically lose her footing at the crucial moment and hit the deck.
Moments later, it was Rachel Williams who hit the deck - but unlike Kerr at the other end, this was not of her own volition. The Spurs striker was wiped out by Berger as she attempted to round the Chelsea goalkeeper following a sublime Jess Naz pass. The German was given her marching orders and the Blues were reduced to 10 players with an hour left on the clock.
Both sides had opportunities to take the lead in the early stages of the second half; Kerr was picked out fantastically by Reiten, but Tinja-Riikka Korpela was out quickly to deny the Chelsea striker. This save was then bettered by Zecira Musovic, who acrobatically tipped Kerys Harrop's cross away from danger.
It looked like it might not be Kerr's day after she was again kept out, this time by a thunderous challenge from Arsenal-loanee Viktoria Schnaderbeck. But the Australian would not be denied, and with 19 minutes remaining she rose highest to head Jonna Andersson's cross into the net.
Jessie Fleming netted a long range stunner in stoppage time to seal the victory and extend Chelsea's lead at the WSL summit.
Tottenham vs Chelsea player ratings - WSL
1. Tottenham (5-4-1)
GK: Tinja-Riikka Korpela - 7/10 - Made a terrific near post save to deny Kerr after 10 minutes, and another fantastic stop in the second half to deny the Chelsea striker.
RB: Ashleigh Neville - 5/10 - Beaten by a fabulous piece of skill from Reiten in the build up to Chelsea's equaliser, and the visitor's second also came from the Spurs right.
CB: Molly Bartrip - 7/10 - Tottenham's answer to Katie Zelem, provided a wicked corner delivery which rattled the post from which Spurs took the lead. Popped up with an important last ditch block to cut out a Kerr cross on the stroke of half time.
CB: Viktoria Schnaderbeck - 6/10 - Saw Kerr get the wrong side of her on a couple of occasions, but then produced a stunning tackle to deny the Australian striker as she charged towards goal in the second half.
CB: Shelina Zadorsky - 6/10 - Solid and robust, largely limiting the Chelsea damage down the Spurs left.
LB: Kerys Harrop - 6/10 - Enjoyed a hotly contested battle with Charles in the first half. Almost gave Spurs the lead with a looping cross-come-shot
RM: Kyah Simon - 5/10 - Struggled to get the better of Carter and have any real attacking impact on the game. Replaced after 67 minutes.
CM: Evelina Summanen - 7/10 - A real battling performance, typifying Spurs' spirited display with her ability to break up play.
CM: Cho So-hyun - 6/10 - Tidy on the ball, limited in her opportunity to have an impact in the final third.
LM: Jessica Naz - 7/10 - Played a superb, defence splitting through ball to send Williams away in the build up to Berger's sending off. Lively and energetic, caused Charles a few problems and produced a stunning recovery run to halt a dangerous Harder charge.
ST: Rachel Williams - 7/10 - Produced an instinctive goal poacher's run to latch onto a fabulous pass from Naz and round Berger as the Chelsea goalkeeper was sent off. A thorn in the side of the Blues backline all afternoon with her energy, strength and tenacity.
Sub: Jiali Tang - 5/10
Sub: Angela Addison - N/A
2. Chelsea (5-3-2)
GK: Ann-Katrin Berger - 3/10 - Her first league start since February, left Chelsea with it all to do after rushing from her goal line and wiping out Williams, seeing red after just 30 minutes.
RWB: Niamh Charles - 5/10 - Perhaps fortunate to not concede a penalty after going through the back of Williams. Battled to win the ball back in the build up to Chelsea's equaliser. Struggled a little bit defensively against Naz, forced off with injury with 20 left.
CB: Aniek Nouwen - 5/10 - Didn't have a great deal to do, with the majority of Spurs' attacks coming down the Chelsea left or from set pieces. Replaced at half time.
CB: Millie Bright - 6/10 - Flashed a thunderous volley narrowly over in the second half. Typically solid.
CB: Jess Carter - 8/10 - Switched to left back as part of a back four following Berger's dismissal. Really solid and dependable, hardly gave Simon an inch. Moved to right back following the introduction of Andersson.
LWB: Guro Reiten - 7/10 - Produced a fabulous piece of skill and acceleration as her dinked cross levelled the scores - a carbon copy of her finish against Leicester last month. Picked out Kerr with a wonderful lofted pass in the second half.
CM: Sophie Ingle - 7/10 - Couldn't do a lot about Spurs' opener, the ball cannoning off her and into the net. So important once Chelsea went down to 10 with the steel she adds to midfield.
CM: Ji So-yun - 6/10 - Dictated play, including providing the switch ball to Reiten in the build up to Chelsea's equaliser. Replaced at half time.
CM: Erin Cuthbert - 8/10 - Was absolutely everywhere in the opening half-hour, bursting with energy, eager to get on the ball and spraying passes. Saw her attacking impact limited after Chelsea went down to 10, but put in one hell of a defensive shift.
FW: Sam Kerr - 7/10 - Forced a good near-post save from Korpela in the opening exchanges. Denied twice in the second half by Korpela and Schnaderbeck, before rising highest to head Chelsea into the lead.
FW: Bethany England - 5/10 - Neat with her link up play, but sacrificed after half an hour following Berger's sending off.
Sub: Zecira Musovic - 6/10 - Produced a stunning stretching save to keep out Harrop.
Sub: Pernille Harder - 6/10
Sub: Magdalena Eriksson - 6/10
Sub: Jonna Andersson - 7/10 - Delivered the cross for Kerr's goal with her first touch after coming off the bench.
Sub: Jessie Fleming - 7/10 - Netted an absolute beauty at the death.