Liverpool FC Women Fight Back For 2-2 Draw With Spurs
Sophie Roman Haug opened the scoring to give the Reds a lead, and also headed home the equalizer after Liverpool conceded twice in a short period.
The Liverpool FC Women were the appetizer on Sunday, playing to a smaller crowd at St. Helen’s than usual ahead of the Men’s match a few miles away at Anfield later in the day. Amber Whiteley and her side looked to capitalize on their win of Brighton last time out and maintain their spot in the table.
Liverpool were forced into two changes in the side. Alejandra Bernabé sadly will miss out for the rest of the season after sustaining a muscle injury. She was replaced by Jenna Clark, who slotted in at right back while Taylor Hinds swapped back to left back. Leanne Kiernan also was unavailable after taking a knock in training. Sophie Roman Haug came back into a starting role after being supplanted by the Irishwoman in recent weeks. In good news, young starlet Olivia Smith was available after being forced off just before halftime against Brighton.
Spurs generated a couple of early chances, with Rachael Laws being forced to turn a shot from Bethany England around the post. Liverpool quickly gained momentum themselves, and forced the ball home from close range in just the 12th minute.
A corner from Marie Höbinger created a scramble in the box. Gemma Bonner managed to get a toe to the ball and drop it back to an unmarked Sophie Roman Haug just outside the 6 yard box. The Norwegian striker placed the ball through a sea of legs and into the net to give the Reds an early lead.
As we have seen numerous times before, however, Liverpool failed to capitalize on additional chances before conceding poor goals to give up a lead. Spurs equalized in the 25th minute after Jessica Naz lofted a ball in from the left flank. The ball carried over everyone and came off the crossbar. Rachael Laws was not quick enough to react and fumbled her attempt to catch the rebound, instead seeing the ball bounce off of her arm and past Grace Fisk on the goal line for an own goal.
Spurs took the lead just six minutes later from their own corner kick. The ball in carried over the scrum in the center of the 6 yard box to Clare Hunt. The defender simply ran past Sam Kerr to poke the ball home from close range.
Liverpool looked to find their own equalizer as the first half came to a close. Jenna Clark drove an effort just past the post after carrying the ball from deep and Ceri Holland was denied by a great save from Lize Kop. Clark again almost found the net, this time from a lofted ball in that the wind pushed towards the goal. Kop was again on the spot to tip the ball over the crossbar.
The Reds came out pushing hard to start the second half and were rewarded from yet another set piece. A corner kick routine saw Marie Höbinger play a quick 1-2 to get a different angle for her delivery. The ball in was a peach, finding the head of Sophie Roman Haug at the back post. The Norwegian striker powered a perfect header past Kop and into the net to tie the match up.
The rest of the second half was a fairly wide open affair, with both sides launching attacks in an attempt to reclaim the lead. Liverpool forced several saves along the way, and saw two attempts denied on the goal line in the 96th minute. In the end, Kop was able to make the block from Jenna Clark and keep the honors equal.
Liverpool dropped back down to the sixth spot in the table after Brighton secured a victory over Leicester City on Saturday. The sides are level on 25 points, with Brighton having a significant edge in goal difference.
The Reds will play their penultimate match of the season, and final home match, next Sunday. It should be a festive occasion as Liverpool will host the Merseyside derby at Anfield.
Source: liverpooloffside.sbnation.com
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