Liverpool escape with the points in WSL

Marie Hobinger’s injury-time penalty gave Liverpool a 3-2 win in the Barclays Women’s Super League at Brisbane Road on Sunday afternoon.

We found ourselves behind on two occasions over the course of the enthralling encounter in the capital – Olivia Smith and Marie Hobinger on target for Liverpool – but we fought back twice to bring the scores level, Jess Naz’s cross put into her own net by Taylor Hinds before Clare Hunt grabbed her first goal for the Club in fortunate fashion.

The Australia international's leveller came with seven minutes left on the clock and we had opportunities to put ourselves ahead for the first time in the game, Jess Naz and Bethany England both being denied by Rachael Laws, but it was the visitors who secured the three points in the end as, in the fourth minute of injury-time, Hobinger converted from the penalty spot to hand us our first defeat of the season.

Robert Vilahamn named an unchanged starting XI from our last outing in the WSL at Aston Villa – eight changes from the midweek win over Charlton Athletic in the Women’s League – while Liverpool handed a first start for Corneila Kapocs and she made an instant impact in E10.

The Sweden international intercepted Becky Spencer’s attempted pass to Hayley Raso before spotting our number 22 off her line, sending a 25-yard lofted effort over Spencer and into the back of the net. Sofie Lundgaard then fired us another warning moments later as her low-drilled shot from inside the box went just wide of the post as the visitors started positively in the capital.

We played some lovely football down each flank, with Hayley Raso and Amanda Nildén getting behind but Liverpool were alert to clear the attempted crosses. There was a lengthy spell of stoppage just after the half hour mark, which saw Lundgaard replaced by Gemma Evans, and both sides struggled to regain momentum from that point, although Olivia Smith should have down better on the right of the six-yard box, firing a low-driven effort past the far post.

The visitors were inches away from doubling their lead after the break as Gemma Bonner’s header was pushed onto the post by Nilden and then, just three minutes later, we found an equaliser as Naz demonstrated her pace to glide past Evans before sending a low cross into the box and Hinds could only turn the ball into the back of her own net.

That sparked us into life as Martha Thomas saw her powerful strike pushed away by Laws while, at the other end, Smith’s right-footed effort grazed the side-netting. However, the visitors reinstated their lead on 75 minutes as Hobinger, from around 20 yards out and centrally, curled her free-kick into the top right-hand corner.

Naz had a golden opportunity just four minutes later to bring the scores level once again as she raced behind the visitors’ backline before being denied by the on-rushing Laws. But, with seven minutes left on the clock, we found a leveller for the second time in the game as Hunt, who did well to create space inside the box, sent a left-footed strike towards goal, which ricocheted off Bonner and past Laws.

The drama didn’t end there in the closing stages as we pushed for a late winner, England firing a half-volley just wide after Nilden’s corner caused a scramble inside the box, but, in the fourth minute of injury-time, Liverpool were awarded a penalty after Sophie Roman Haug was brought down. Hobinger stepped up and picked out the bottom right corner, despite Spencer getting a hand on the ball, to claim the visitors first victory of the season and brought our unbeaten start to an end.

Match data

Goals: Spurs – Hinds OG 54, Hunt 83; Liverpool – Kapcos 10, Hobinger 75, 90+5.

Yellow cards: Spurs – Hunt 73, Thomas 77; Liverpool – Bonner 70, Clark 86.

Referee: Kirsty Dowie.

Venue: Brisbane Road.

Weather: Light spells of rain with a gentle breeze, 15 degrees.

Attendance: 2206.