Bethany England brace earns victory for Tottenham
Bethany England fired a double as Tottenham secured a much-needed 2-1 home Women’s Super League win against Everton.
England gave Robert Vilahamn’s side a first-half lead and after Sara Holmgaard equalised before the break, the Tottenham striker converted a penalty early in the second period.
Tottenham, who had lost five of their six previous league games, registered their first win against Everton since December 2021 and climbed up to sixth place in the table.
Everton registered their first league win of the season in their last match – 1-0 against Merseyside rivals Liverpool – but slipped to their fifth league defeat of the season and sit one point above bottom club Leicester.
Tottenham looked dangerous early on through some excellent deliveries from Eveliina Summanen and England twice headed off target.
But England fired the Londoners into a 25th-minute lead. This time it was Jessica Naz’s superb cross following a short corner which created the danger and the Tottenham number nine fired home from close range.
Tottenham went in search of a second goal and Hayley Raso’s thumping drive was well saved by Everton goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan.
With Everton struggling to gain a foothold in the game, manager Brian Sorensen made a double substitution nine minutes before half-time, replacing Karoline Olesen and Melissa Lawley with Elise Stenevik and Veatriki Sarri.
The changes had the desired effect as Everton equalised out of nowhere soon after through Holmgaard’s brilliant effort from outside the penalty area.
Brosnan denied Martha Thomas just before the interval to keep the scores level before Tottenham regained the lead soon after the restart.
Martha Thomas was deemed to have been fouled by Heather Payne before a corner and England lashed home the subsequent penalty into the top corner.
Tottenham continued to look the more threatening without creating further clear-cut chances and Sorensen sent on Toni Payne and Emma Bissell for Payne and Holmgaard in a bid to rescue a point.
