Tottenham Hotspur Women are (obviously) not the men’s team — they have real ambitions for a top four finish this season. Their new signings showed up well in the first match of the season against West Ham at Brisbane Road — Kirsty Hanson had a brace while Signe Gaupset opened the scoring for Tottenham as they cruised to a 3-1 win over West Ham. The win puts them at least temporarily at the top of the table, though that’s relatively meaningless this early in the campaign.
Martin Ho had a good mix of
experience and new signings in his first XI. Kirsty Hanson, the WSL’s third leading scorer last season at Aston Villa, earned her legacy number along with Caitlin Dijkstra in the starting lineup. Former Hammer Sheikira Martinez started on the bench, while highly-rated CB Alice Sombath was not in the side with Ho still working to develop her fitness; Caitlin Dijkstra and Toko Koga formed the center of the back line. New club captain Drew Spence anchored the midfield along with Eveliina Summanen and Signe Gaupset.
The match started relatively even — Spurs seemed content to build patiently from the back while West Ham looked to capitalize on Spurs mistakes and hit back quickly on the counter. After 15 minutes it looked like this match would be an evenly-matched slog.
That changed 18 minutes in when Spurs’ Norway international Signe Gaupset caught a headed ball into the box and plonked it off the post and in from close range. It wasn’t the sweetest of shot, but was reminiscent of Anthony Elanga’s goal against the men’s team last weekend.
Spurs doubled their advantage in the first half thanks to new signing Kirsty Hanson, who latched on to a through ball from Gaupset into the box and dinked a deflected effort over West Ham keeper Picaud-Inconnu. It was a lovely bit of team play.
Tandberg nearly put Spurs up three with a free header in the box that was unfortunately straight at Picaud-Inconnu. She was later subbed off for new signing Shekiera Martinez. Spurs also had a mid-half injury scare as Toko Koga required treatment, but she was soon up and walking it off.
Kirsty Hanson scored her second with an outrageous curling shot from the top of the box that nestled in the top corner, and Spurs cruised from there. Sub Martinez had the ball in the net late in the second half, but she was flagged for offside and the goal was waved off. West Ham pulled one goal back from Viviane Asseyi to deny Spurs the clean sheet, but it was a dominant win by Spurs.
A statement win for Tottenham in what they hope is a statement season. The final score was 3-1.
Match Reactions
- How refreshing is it to watch a Tottenham Hotspur team play that has creativity AND passing in midfield? Spence and Summanen provided the spine while Gaupset provided the spark.
- Neither of Spurs’ first two goals were exactly pretty, but when you get shots from that range in the box good things generally happen.
- Kirsty Hanson is a revelation in Spurs’ attack. She makes excellent runs into the box and is a constant menace with the ball. She’s going to be fantastic this season.
- Gaupset is just soooooo smooth in possession, always has her head up, looking to create for her teammates. She could’ve had three assists to go along with her goal today.
- Tottenham’s press was super impressive (no pun intended) and a big reason why they were so capable on the ball this match. West Ham’s not a bad side, either.
- It’s really impressive how all of Tottenham’s players show for the ball. They all are well-drilled, making off-ball runs, making themselves available for short, open passes.
- I don’t expect that they’ll be able to do this often, but what a treat to be able to bring Matilda Nilden, Victoria Pelova, and Olivia Holdt on off the bench in a comfortable win!
- Spurs just look like a well-drilled, well-coached team that knows what it wants to do with the ball and knows how to effectively realize that ambition. Early days, but they’re going to be FUN. But they’ll have plenty of competition with London City, Brighton, and Manchester United all competing for fourth or higher.
- A quick note on coverage — people are taking the WSL much more seriously and it shows in Paramount’s coverage — they had an actual live studio team commenting on the matches, had xG statistics, and an announcer team that was knowledgeable and competent, something not always the case in past years. It’s a really positive development.
