Tottenham Hotspur defeated Arsenal 1-0 in the North London derby to win the Women’s Super League for the first time ever.
The game’s deciding goal came from a Martha Thomas goal in the second half, as a determined Spurs team kept their rivals from taking the lead.
After missing numerous opportunities, Jonas Eidevall’s team was left to lament their second league loss of the year.
After cutting in from the left flank, Caitlin Foord’s shot cannoned off the post, bringing Arsenal dangerously close to breaking the deadlock.
Barbora Votikova of Spurs then had to make a wonderful save to deflect a strike by Frida Maanum onto the post.
After the break, Arsenal stepped up their game, and Alessia Russo wasted a fantastic chance to open the score when she headed wide from Beth Mead’s cross.
After that, Frida Maanum’s attempt struck the net’s ceiling, and Thomas made up for the Gunners’ missed opportunities.
Two minutes before the hour, Celin Bizet Ildhusoy produced a lovely ball play that allowed the Scotland international to slip the ball past Manuela Zinsberger.
Mead attempted to equalize the score by setting up Amanda Ilestedt for a corner, but the Swedish defender’s header was off target.
Introduced to give the visitors additional firepower, Vivianne Miedema missed her own chance and blasted wide instead.
A medical incident in the audience caused the game to be stopped, and Eidevall’s team needed 11 extra minutes in stoppage time to win.
This season, they have scored five goals in WSL stoppage time, more than any other team in the division. However, this time, a sixth goal was not scored.
The Gunners are now only one goal behind league leaders Chelsea, but a victory at Bristol City on Sunday would put the defending champions three points ahead of the north Londoners.
If Manchester City defeats Everton, they might also pass Eidevall’s team and go up to second place.
With their next WSL match not until January 20 when they face Everton, the Gunners will have plenty of time to digest this outcome.