Marisa Olislagers’ stunning volley earns point for Brighton against Tottenham
Marisa Olislagers scored a late equaliser for Brighton to earn a 1-1 draw with Tottenham in the Women’s Super League.
A scrappy game saw few clear-cut chances from either side in the first half, but Brighton began to threaten with Spurs goalkeeper Eleanor Heeps making some regulation saves.
Beth England put Tottenham ahead in the 75th minute following a tidy move from Martha Thomas and Jess Naz on the right wing, but Olislagers equalised just seven minutes later with a stunning strike to share the spoils.
Tottenham threatened in the early stages when a menacing cross from Naz was cleared away by the Brighton defence and the visitors held possession well.
Spurs were handed a scare playing out from the back when Jelena Cankovic pounced on to a loose ball on the edge of the area, but Heeps made a comfortable save from the resulting shot.
Brighton began to get a grip on the game and tested the visitors again in the 21st minute when Pauline Bremer’s low strike whistled past the post. Heeps was then called into action again to deny Jorelyn Carabali from a tight angle.
The Seagulls proved to be a threat down the left flank with Bremer and Olislagers floating some teasing crosses into the box, but the hosts were unable to fire any troubling shots towards goal.
Just before the break, Heeps held on to a looping Nikita Parris header and on a rare venture into Brighton territory Amanda Nilden’s cross flashed across goal before Poppy Pattinson had a tame shot saved at the other end.
Substitute Michelle Agyemang started the second half brightly for the hosts with a great run down the left before playing the ball into Parris, who scuffed her shot before Tottenham charged down the pitch and Sophie Baggaley held Hayley Raso’s dangerous cross in the six-yard box.
Baggaley made an easy save from Clare Hunt’s header and the Brighton goalkeeper pushed away a great chance from England before Parris had a brilliant opportunity when her deflected effort went out for a corner.
After a good spell of pressure, Tottenham found the breakthrough in the 75th minute when Naz threaded a pass into Thomas, who cut the ball back in for England to smash a first-time finish past Baggaley.
Naz nearly extended their lead just moments later when her shot flew narrowly wide and Agyemang tried her luck from distance as Brighton searched for an equaliser.
The Seagulls responded in the 82nd minute after Spurs struggled to clear the ball from the penalty area and fell to Olislagers on the left, who blasted a brilliant strike on the volley from a tight angle into the far corner.
Play resumed following a brief stoppage for a medical incident in the crowd and both sides pushed for a winner in the final stages, with Heeps making a low save from Agyemang before Thomas unleashed a powerful shot which flew over the crossbar.
