Ria Percival curled in an injury time free-kick for Tottenham Hotspur as they came from behind to record a 1-1 draw with Manchester United at The Hive.
Rehanne Skinner’s side looked set to surrender third position in the Barclays FA Women’s Super League table until Percival’s free-kick evaded everyone to find the far corner of the Manchester United net at the death.
The first half-hour saw play largely contested in the middle of the park with neither side being offered much sight of goal. Spurs did have one early chance but Jess Naz’s curling effort was pushed to safety by visiting keeper Mary Earps.
Manchester United warmed to the task and Alessia Russo saw a shot saved by Tinja-Riikka Korpela before Percival blocked Leah Galton’s follow up effort.
Naz then looped an effort just wide for Spurs before the visitors took the lead in first half injury time when Russo battled her way through the home defence before thumping her shot above Korpela and into the roof of the net.
Manchester United looked lively at the start of the second period with Galton and Ella Toone going close before Kirsty Hanson forced a decent save from Korpela.
At the other end, Kit Graham tried her luck from 30 yards and her effort had to be pushed to safety by Earps who will have been worried about being beaten by the looping ball. That chance was soon followed up by a dangerous cross from Naz that needed Earps to tip the ball behind for a corner as Spurs pushed for an equaliser.
Substitute Martha Thomas and Russo had chances to add to Manchester United’s slender lead but they failed to find the accuracy needed to beat Korpela before Spurs levelled matters through Percival’s free-kick which bounced awkwardly in front of Earps before nestling in the corner of the net.
Leah Galton then immediately had a chance to win the game for Manchester United at the other end but Korpela was equal to her shot as the game ended 1-1.
Spurs retain third place as a result of this afternoon’s result while Manchester United finish the game in fifth.
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