Point gained despite shootout loss in dramatic Conti Cup derby

We picked up a point from a rip-roaring Continental Tyres League Cup tie at Arsenal on Wednesday - only to lose out in the subsequent penalty shootout.

Flying high in Group D with two wins out of two prior to kick-off, we took the lead three times over the course of a high-octane encounter at the Mangata Pay UK Stadium, Martha Thomas ending her wait for a first goal since October in emphatic style early on before a well-taken brace from Jess Naz had the home side on the ropes.

But after Stina Blackstenius and Frida Maanum hauled the Gunners back level on two separate occasions, an unfortunate own goal from Amy Turner midway through the second half proved costly as the match ended 3-3 and went to penalties, with Arsenal winning the shootout 4-3 for an extra point to go top of the group.

It was a fine performance from Robert Vilahamn's side, though, and we remain in a strong position to qualify for the quarter-finals with one more game remaining, the nature of the display serving as a great appetizer for Saturday's Women's Super League showdown between the sides at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (tickets available here).

Centre-back Molly Bartrip made superb blocks from Kathrine Kuhl and Noelle Maritz to set the tone in front of a sellout crowd on a freezing Hertfordshire evening as we weathered some early pressure before taking the lead in our first real attack, full-back Ashleigh Neville sending in a perfect cross from the right - having temporarily switched sides with Angharad James - for Thomas to peel away from her marker and plant home a 17th-minute header. Having scored in her first five games in our colours, that was her first in seven - and what an important goal it was.

Arsenal responded almost immediately, though, Blackstenius steering Maanum's right-sided cut-back high inside the near post two minutes later, with a Katie McCabe rocket from distance brilliantly tipped over by Barbora Votikova shortly afterwards. We'd begun to get forward more freely by that stage, Grace Clinton unplayable at times, and we stunned the hosts once more by regaining the lead on the half-hour, Thomas' through ball from deep allowing Naz to prod clinically past the advancing Sabrina D'Angelo. It almost got even better for us, but Celin Bizet's deflected shot was saved by D'Angelo down to her left.

Back came the Gunners on 37 minutes, though, Maanum blasting home from inside the box after McCabe's cut-back from the left, with Votikova making a handful of useful stops on only her third appearance for us to keep the Gunners at bay. At the other end, we were clinical again three minutes after half-time as Bizet broke through centrally before shifting the ball right to Naz, who took her shot on early, firing through the legs of covering defender Laia Codina and low into the far corner of the net to put us 3-2 up. You sensed at that point that a famous win could be on the cards as Arsenal struggled to create clear chances, although Caitlin Foord went close when she fired wide shortly after the hour mark. We almost grabbed a fourth seconds later as substitute Rosella Ayane broke down the right and slid a great low ball into the middle for the arriving Naz, but the England Under-23 international agonisingly couldn't connect as it was fractionally too far in front of her.

Unfortunately, though, the hosts did manage to force an equaliser in the 68th minute when Steph Catley's diagonal free-kick was nodded into her own net by defender Turner under heavy pressure at the back post and after Beth Mead's late free-kick was kept out by Votikova, the game ended all square.

Competition rules state that drawn ties must go to a penalty shootout for an extra point in the group, but after D'Angelo brilliantly tipped Naz's opening spot-kick onto the post and away, we were always fighting a tough battle. Kit Graham fired our third penalty against the frame of the goal to give the hosts a further advantage, but Votikova's excellent save from Foord prolonged the action until Arsenal's fifth penalty, which Jen Beattie converted to give her side the win.

Penalty shootout

Spurs - Naz - saved
Arsenal - Russo - scored
Spurs - Ayane - scored
Arsenal - Mead - scored
Spurs - Graham - missed
Arsenal - Catley - scored
Spurs - Zadorsky - scored
Arsenal - Foord - saved
Spurs - Petzelberger - scored
Arsenal - Beattie - scored

Reaction on SPURSPLAY

Match data

Goals: Arsenal - Blackstenius 19, Maanum 37, Turner (OG) 68; Spurs - Thomas 17, Naz 30, 48.

Yellow cards: Arsenal - Beattie 59, Pelova 77; Spurs - Petzelberger 61, Clinton 67, James 70.

Referee: Emily Heaslip.

Venue: Mangata Pay UK Stadium.

Weather: Cloudy, light rain, five degrees.

Attendance: 3,618.