Match ends, Tottenham Hotspur Women 0, Chelsea Women 2.
Tottenham WomenTottenham Hotspur Women0Chelsea WomenChelsea Women2
Chelsea moved a step closer to retaining the Women's Super League title with a comfortable victory over a stubborn Tottenham Hotspur side.
Spurs goalkeeper Becky Spencer made a string of saves before Sam Kerr slotted the Blues ahead from a narrow angle four minutes before half-time.
Kerr made it 2-0 soon after the break, her 20th league goal of the season.
The Blues, who are still in the hunt for a historic quadruple, are now two points clear at the top of the table.
Emma Hayes' side know a win against Reading on the final day of the campaign on Sunday will see them pip Manchester City to the title.
Kerr helps Blues get job done
Hayes made five changes to the team which booked their place in the Women's Champions League final on Sunday, but the Blues were frustrated for most of the first half.
Spencer made good saves to keep out headers from Sophie Ingle and Drew Spence, and also clawed a shot from Wales midfielder Ingle behind for a corner.
Chelsea broke the deadlock when Millie Bright's long diagonal into the box was put back across goal by Guro Reiten and Kerr provided the finishing touch.
Kerr saw a powerful point-blank header saved by Spencer seven minutes after the restart but she converted the rebound to give her side breathing space at The Hive.
Blues keeper Ann-Katrin Berger had little to do during a professional performance by the visitors, although the German had to get her body behind Lucy Quinn's angled drive.
Rianna Dean sent a late effort narrowly wide for Spurs, whose winless run in the league stretched to 10 games.
Chelsea continue to carve out results at the business end of the season, with a seventh win in eight league games putting them on the brink of a fourth WSL title.
Spurs boss Rehanne Skinner:
"We've played Chelsea twice so I'm well aware of the challenges that you face when they're in this kind of form.
"All credit to them, they're still in the running for this quadruple and that will be a massive step for them and a real positive for women's football.
"We've got to keep working on strengthening our side and continue on the journey that we're on here at Spurs, to evolve our squad and be in a better position to compete next year."
Chelsea manager Emma Hayes:
"It [the game vs Reading] will be a cup final for us and I'll approach it as such. We have to win the game.
"As coaches we want everything. Some people have played a lot of football in recent weeks and this is another real credit to the whole squad for getting the win.
"The Bayern game took a lot out of us emotionally, so I was wondering what our performance would be like today."
Line-ups
Tottenham Women
Formation 4-3-3
- 22Spencer
- 35Morgan
- 20McManusBooked at 90mins
- 3Zadorsky
- 15Worm
- 11ChoSubstituted forGrahamat 61'minutes
- 14AddisonSubstituted forNazat 61'minutes
- 8Peplow
- 19Quinn
- 10WilliamsSubstituted forHarropat 74'minutes
- 9Dean
Substitutes
- 4Green
- 5Harrop
- 7Davison
- 16Graham
- 17Naz
- 29Neville
Chelsea Women
Formation 4-4-2
- 30Berger
- 21CharlesSubstituted forCarterat 45'minutes
- 4Bright
- 16ErikssonSubstituted forBlundellat 76'minutes
- 25Andersson
- 22Cuthbert
- 24SpenceSubstituted forLeupolzat 67'minutes
- 5Ingle
- 11ReitenSubstituted forFlemingat 66'minutes
- 9England
- 20KerrSubstituted forHarderat 66'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Musovic
- 3Blundell
- 7Carter
- 8Leupolz
- 10Ji
- 14Kirby
- 17Fleming
- 23Harder
- 28Telford
- Referee:
- Amy Fearns
Match Stats
Home TeamTottenham WomenAway TeamChelsea Women
- Possession
- Home39%
- Away61%
- Shots
- Home5
- Away24
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away11
- Corners
- Home3
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home14
- Away6
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Tottenham Hotspur Women 0, Chelsea Women 2.
Post update
Attempt missed. Rianna Dean (Tottenham Hotspur Women) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
Booking
Abbie McManus (Tottenham Hotspur Women) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Sophie Ingle (Chelsea Women) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Abbie McManus (Tottenham Hotspur Women).
Post update
Offside, Chelsea Women. Millie Bright tries a through ball, but Erin Cuthbert is caught offside.
Post update
Attempt saved. Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea Women) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Jonna Andersson.
Post update
Corner, Tottenham Hotspur Women. Conceded by Jonna Andersson.
Post update
Corner, Chelsea Women. Conceded by Lucy Quinn.
Post update
Jessie Fleming (Chelsea Women) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Kerys Harrop (Tottenham Hotspur Women).
Post update
Attempt missed. Jonna Andersson (Chelsea Women) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Chelsea Women. Conceded by Esther Morgan.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Beth England (Chelsea Women) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Erin Cuthbert with a cross.
Post update
Offside, Chelsea Women. Pernille Harder tries a through ball, but Beth England is caught offside.
Substitution
Substitution, Chelsea Women. Hannah Blundell replaces Magdalena Eriksson.
Substitution
Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur Women. Kerys Harrop replaces Rachel Williams.
Post update
Corner, Chelsea Women. Conceded by Esther Morgan.
Post update
Foul by Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea Women).
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