Alessia Russo stars as Arsenal power past Tottenham Hostpur, while Man Utd get the better of Crystal Palace to stay in touch with leaders Chelsea at the top of the Women’s Super League.
Arsenal 5-0 Tottenham
Caitlin Foord and Alessia Russo after Arsenal take a 1-0 lead
Alessia Russo produced a player-of-the-match display as Arsenal thrashed north London rivals Tottenham in front of 55,784 fans at the Emirates.
The England striker caused havoc all afternoon for the visiting defence, firstly getting on the end of Kyra Cooney-Cross’s centre to seemingly open the scoring on the quarter-hour mark, only for it to go down as a Clare Hunt own goal after her header took a nick off the Spurs defender on its way into the net at the far post.
Emily Fox [left] celebrates scoring Arsenal’s fifth goal
Maria Caldentey’s piledriver deservedly doubled the home side’s lead 10n minutes before half-time, before Frida Maanum’s shot took a massive deflection off the unfortunate Hunt as the Gunners wet 3-0 up six minutes into the second half, with Russo the provider.
Fittingly, it was Russo who added a fourth just before the hour mark, collecting Caitlin Foord’s pass, before finding the bottom corner with a low drive, although the best strike was left for last.
Alessia Russo scores to make it 4-0
Not closed down, US right-back Emily Fox decided to try her luck from distance, finding the top corner for her first WSL goal as Renee Slegers’s side stayed in touch with champions Chelsea at the top of the table.
Man Utd come through Palace test
Elisabeth Terland takes her WSL tally to eight goals with a double against Palace
Elisbaeth Terland scored twice as Man United were made to work for a 3-1 victory over bottom side Crystal Palace.
Palace goalkeeper Milla-Maj Majasaari endured a difficult afternoon, gifting Terland a relatively straightforward early opener, but the visitors made a contest of things thereafter.
Lily Woodham engineered a first-half equaliser when her lofted pass found Mille Gejl in space, racing away down the left before beating Phallon Tullis-Joyce at her near post – only the sixth time Man Utd have been breached all season.
Plucky Palace also had an effort turned off the line after the break but weren’t able to stop their hosts at the opposite end, conceding to Terland’s eighth WSL goal of the season and a bullet header from Grace Clinton late on.
Majasaari mistakenly attempted to collect Ella Toone’s high free-kick only to be beaten to the ball by Clinton, who made a perfect connection to seal all three points for Marc Skinner’s side and maintain their WSL standing in second.
Palace stay rooted to the foot of the table with six points from 14 played.
