Match reportRoman Haug gets first Liverpool goal in WSL draw at Tottenham

The Reds had fallen behind in the lunchtime kick-off at Brisbane Road as Celin Bizet produced a clinical run and finish midway through the first half.

Bizet also clattered a shot off the crossbar before Roman Haug’s downward header drew Matt Beard’s team level after the interval to claim a point.

Liverpool made an assured start to the game and enjoyed the ball in the early stages, though it was Spurs who provided the first two threats at goal.

First, Ashleigh Neville completed a one-two to break down the left flank and deliver a cross that reached Angharad James for a low drive that was blocked behind by Jenna Clark. Neville then directed a header narrowly past the upright from Olga Ahtinen’s deep delivery into the box.

The Reds’ response saw Gemma Bonner flick a header wide from Marie Höbinger’s corner kick, before a big opportunity for Roman Haug.

From a counter-attack, Höbinger picked the right moment to serve a pass out to Grace Fisk down the right. Her accurate pass across the box picked out Roman Haug, whose finish went over the goal.

The ebb and flow moved back to Tottenham’s favour and they broke the deadlock as the clock moved into a 27th minute.

Bizet embarked on a driving run through a central area before arcing her movement to the right and past several defenders. And she supplied the final touch to match, clipping a low shot across Rachael Laws into the bottom left corner.

Roman Haug wasn’t too far away with a header over the bar from Höbinger’s diagonal ball into the area before Liverpool lost Mia Enderby to an injury, with Shanice van de Sanden introduced.

Spurs were inches away from having a second goal to take in to half-time, as Bizet’s well-struck blast was crucially deflected onto the bar – and out – by Clark.

PHOTOS

Spurs made an active beginning to the second half and Kit Graham was not far away with a dipping attempt from around 20 yards that brushed the roof of the net.

From there, chances were at a premium until Roman Haug got the Reds level.

It was a really well-worked goal, too, with Van de Sanden showing strength and poise to hold the ball and move it out to substitute Yana Daniels, whose flighted delivery into the box was deftly headed down into the net by the No.10.

Liverpool needed their goalkeeper to preserve the game’s new parity, Laws palming away a strong strike from Jessica Naz at the end of a counter-attack.

Bonner supplied an outstanding challenge inside the penalty box to thwart Bizet and Laws also collected a low drive from Grace Clinton.

The Reds had a series of promising opportunities as time ticked away, with a scramble ensuing – and ultimately being cleared – when Van de Sanden lifted a pass towards Natasha Flint in the area.

And there was a great chance six minutes from the end as Missy Bo Kearns’ free-kick from the left-hand side found Bonner unmarked, with the defender firing a first-time strike off target, and it ended with the spoils shared.

TEAM

Liverpool: Laws, Fisk, Bonner, Clark, Hinds, Nagano, Höbinger (Kearns, 75), Holland, Lawley (Daniels, 63), Enderby (Van de Sanden, 43), Roman H. (Flint, 75).

Unused subs: Spencer, Parry, Lundgaard, Kiernan.

NEXT UP

Liverpool are back in the capital next weekend with a game against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Kick-off on Saturday November 18 is 1.30pm GMT.