Penalty shootout heartbreak for Spurs Women in Conti Cup derby

Goals from Ria Percival and Shelina Zadorsky saw Spurs Women twice come back from a goal down to draw 2-2 with Arsenal, only to suffer penalty shootout heartbreak in the Continental League Cup at Boreham Wood on Wednesday night (18 November).

A superb second-half performance saw Percival cancel out Vivianne Miedema's early opener, before defender Zadorsky scrambled home her first goal for the Club two minutes from time, Caitlin Foord having earlier restored the Gunners' lead against the run of play.

Angela Addison had previously rattled the frame of the goal with a long-range shot that seemed destined for the top corner while Percival blasted wide in another great chance as we caused the hosts all sorts of problems in pursuit of victory.

And we could have grabbed a sensational winner in the 90th minute, but half-time substitute Alex Morgan was denied one-on-one by Arsenal's debutant goalkeeper Lydia Williams.

With the spoils shared, a penalty shootout for a bonus point in Group B ensued, but after both sides scored their first four spot-kicks, Lia Walti netted and Morgan's left-footed effort went over the bar as Arsenal triumphed 5-4.

The final group standings are yet to be decided, but both sides' hopes of progressing as one of the two best runners-up in the competition were effectively ended with this outcome.

Arsenal had the better of the first half, Becky Spencer forced into a fine save as Jill Roord steered Miedema's shot towards goal in the ninth minute before the Gunners took the lead two minutes later, captain Kim Little flicking the ball over our defensive line for Miedema to stroke home. Rosella Ayane - back in the starting line up as the solitary change from Saturday's league draw at Bristol City - forced Williams to parry her angled drive away 10 minutes later, but that was our only real chance before the break, with Little unable to steer a shot on target in a good opening for the hosts as half-time approached.

Foord couldn't quite stretch to meet half-time substitute Lisa Evans' low ball across the face of our goal as the second half began, but we seemed lifted by the introduction of Morgan at the interval, the USA international operating up front alongside Ayane, and really took the game to the Gunners thereafter.

Zadorsky went close with a near-post effort from Siri Worm's corner, but the second ball just wouldn't quite fall for Morgan at the back stick, while the striker later tried an audiacious lob from the right angle just inside the box, but the ball fell just the wrong side of Williams' right-hand post. However, we finally found a breakthrough on the hour mark as Worm's ball over the top saw Percival burst through on goal before converting coolly beyond the keeper.

Buoyed further by the goal, we almost grabbed the lead four minutes later when Addison's swirling 25-yard shot crashed off the post.

Arsenal, though, reminded us of their threats mid-way through the second half when Hannah Godfrey's headed clearance from a cross fell straight to Danielle van de Donk, whose shot was brilliantly blocked six yards out by full-back Asheleigh Neville. And against the run of play, it was the hosts who bagged the next goal on 72 minutes when Leah Williamson's cross from the right caused Spencer problems on the six-yard line, with Foord turning the ball in as the goalkeeper dived at her feet.

We continued on the front foot, however, with Alanna Kennedy's free-kick flying just over the bar and Percival going through again in a similar position to that from which she scored her earlier goal, but this time she flashed her shot marginally wide on 84 minutes. But two minutes from time, we struck gold with a richly-deserved equaliser. In-form full-back Worm was again the provider, her corner scrambled in from amid a crowded six-yard box by Zadorsky. And we could have won it in the last minute, but Morgan's left-footed effort from a tight angle on the right was repelled by Williams.

Arsenal had one final chance in the last seconds of stoppage time, but Williamson's free-kick zipped wide and the points were shared, with a penalty shootout following on to decide which team would collect a bonus point.

Katie McCabe, Lotte Wubben-Moy, Jennifer Beattie, Foord and Walti all scored for the Gunners but after Lucy Quinn, Percival, Kennedy and Gemma Davison netted our first four attempts, Morgan missed the fifth as the Gunners won 5-4.

Coach's view

Head Coach Karen Hills said: "I’m so pleased that the performance has finally come together. We’ve seen it in the girls time and time again in training but the performances were obviously not quite there, but I thought tonight we were absolutely fantastic. We worked so hard in the first half to restrict their chances, we were concentrating, working really well together and obviously going into the break we were disappointed. Coming out in the second half, I thought we had the belief to go on and actually win the game. I’m really pleased for the girls and it’s just unfortunate that we couldn’t finish it in normal, open play.

"I think that performance should kick-start us - that’s the standards we should be setting. We all should have the belief now that we can actually do it and perform at this level and we’ve shown it against a really good side in Arsenal tonight. I thought the second-half performance was some of the best football I’ve seen us play for a long time and we caused Arsenal problems, which is always good to do."

Match data

Goals: Arsenal - Miedema 11, Foord 72; Spurs - Percival 60, Zadorsky 88.

Yellow cards: Arsenal - Walti 62, Mead 79, Van de Donk 90+3; Spurs - Ayane 53.

Referee: Amy Fearn.

Venue: Meadow Park, Borehamwood.

Weather: Cloudy, moderate breeze, 10 degrees.

Attendance: Behind closed doors.