Lionesses victorious in WSL

Two goals in the last 10 minutes of normal time saw London City Lionesses claim victory in the Women’s Super League on Sunday after we’d twice come back from behind to draw level.

Freya Godfrey’s early effort in the aftermath of a corner was cancelled out by Tinka Tandberg’s penalty after Drew Spence was brought down in the box, with Eveliina Summanen subsequently equalising again with a fine free-kick - scoring her first goal of the campaign - after Nikita Parris had restored her side’s advantage in the opening stages of the second half.

But shortly after the Lionesses forged ahead for a third time on 81 minutes, Kosovare Asllani’s delivery going in off Amanda Nilden, they finally killed off our challenge when Godfrey bagged her second of the game to make it 4-2 as we missed out on a chance to climb to third in the table.

There was plenty of energy in the early stages in southeast London as Olivia Holdt blasted over from the edge of the box in the opening minute, but the home side also posed a threat whenever going forward and they ultimately struck first in the contest on eight minutes. Kosovare Asllani’s corner wasn’t cleared, Wassa Sangare lifted the ball to Godfrey in the centre of the area and she guided her side-footed volley into the bottom corner. With the momentum in their favour, we were indebted to Lize Kop as Grace Greyeo capitalised on a moment of miscommunication at the back and advanced into the box but her low drive was pushed away by our number one.

After a nervy start against the promoted side, we slowly started to grow into the contest, Holdt becoming more influential in our play and we were eventually handed a lifeline on 38 minutes as, after our Denmark international saw two efforts blocked in quick succession, Spence reacted quickest to the loose ball inside the box and was ultimately brought down by a late challenge from Saki Kumagai. Tandberg stepped up to take the penalty and powered home from the spot, sending Elene Lete the wrong way, to send us into the break on level terms.

However, just five minutes after the restart, the home side reinstated their lead as Godfrey turned provider this time, sending a low cross to the back post for Parris to tap home on her 200th WSL appearance. Following lengthy stoppage in play after Kop was hurt in the midst of the goal, we looked for a quick response when Holdt advanced to the byline, where she sat a London City Lionesses defender on the floor, but Naz was unable to make a clean connection on the ball before Spence's low drive from the edge of the box was routine for Elene Lete.

But, on 69 minutes, we found our second equaliser of the afternoon and it was a moment of magic from Summanen. Stepping over a free-kick, positioned just right of the centre and around 20 yards out, the Finland curled over the wall and placed it into the top left corner. Toko Koga was in the right place at the right time to clear Julia Roddard’s goal bound effort off the line but, two minutes later, the home side regained their advantage. Asllani’s free-kick, on the far left near the halfway line, was missed by everyone inside the box bar the unfortunate Nilden at the back post, as the ball bounced off her leg and sneaked into the back of the net.

A fight back for the third time in the contest was made even tougher on 84 minutes when the impressive Godfrey received the ball on the right edge of the box, cut inside and curled a lovely left-footed effort into the far bottom corner. Substitute Bethany England saw an audacious flick over her head, from just outside the six-yard box, drop wide of the post in what was our final opportunity of the game in the closing stages, as any sort of late comeback was fizzled out by London City Lionesses.

We made two changes from last weekend's win over Liverpool at Brisbane Road with Tandberg and Neville coming in for England and Josefine Rybrink.

Match data

Goals: Lionesses – Godfrey 8, 84, Parris 50, Nilden OG 81; Spurs – Tandberg 38; Summanen 69.

Yellow cards: Lionesses – Parris 25, Fernandez 33, Godfrey 67, Asllani 68; Spurs – Nilden 34, Neville 48, Thomas 80.

Referee: Stacey Pearson.

Venue: Hayes Lane, Bromley.

Weather: Sunny but with a gusty breeze, 14 degrees.

Attendance: To be confirmed.