Leicester City 1 – 2 Tottenham Hotspur
By Tom Coopey (28/9/25)
Above: Tottenham celebrate their second goal. Photo: Tottenham Hotspur Women.
Tottenham Hotspur grabbed their third league win of the season, after goals from Cathinka Tandberg and Olivia Holdt.
Tottenham were able to pick up another three points on the road this season, surpassing Leicester City at the King Power Stadium.
Leicester were in search of their second win of the season and looked to carry the momentum of a midweek win in the cup into Sunday’s affair. For Tottenham, after a relatively positive start to the season, they looked to continue their good record against Leicester.
It was a fairly even tie but a bright start from the visitors proved crucial in the end, after two goals were scored in quick succession from Martin Ho’s side. Sam Tierney pulled one back for the Foxes before the break, yet Spurs were able to hold onto their slender lead.
The teams
Rick Passmoor made just one change from the side that narrowly lost 1-0 in their last league meeting against Chelsea, with Belgian international Sari Kees coming in for summer signing Celeste Boureille, who was not in the squad for the game. Shannon O’Brien was also named on the bench, returning from suspension.
Meanwhile for the visitors, Holdt started on the right-wing after scoring Spurs’ only goal in their 1-5 loss against Manchester City. Josefine Rybrink also came into the side for Charli Grant.
The action
Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur came together before the game with a minute of silence to pay tribute to Matt Beard, after the news of his tragic passing. The players and staff also wore black armbands for the game to remember an amazing person in women’s football.
Spurs started brightly, with Janina Leitzig called into action just two minutes in, getting down well to her near post to deny Tandberg from opening the scoring. It was the start of numerous Spurs chances to come.
In the 15th minute, Spurs capitalised on their positive start in the East-Midlands, withTandberg grabbing her second Barclay’s Women’s Super League goal of the season. After a scramble in the box, the ball kindly fell to the Norwegian striker, poking it into the far bottom corner to open the scoring.
It took just little over five minutes for the visitors to grab their second of the afternoon, after a delightful finish from Holdt. Leicester would rue a missed opportunity just moments before the goal, as Holdt punished the Foxes. Eveliina Summanen slipped the winger through on goal, and an audacious chip saw it fly over Leitzig’s head and into the back of the net.
Leicester weren’t short of creating chances, and in the 40th minute they were able to convert, reducing the deficit to one. Hannah Cain’s ball from the right-hand side deflected to the on-rushing Tierney at the back-post, who smashed it in from close-range to make it game on.
Spurs started the second half like they did the first, creating opportunities as they looked to regain their two-goal advantage. Passmoor made an attacking double change just before the hour mark, with Jutta Rantala and Chantelle Swaby introduced, as Leicester searched for the leveller.
The Foxes began to show signs of promise,with Cain coming close after her first-time effort from close-range was blocked after a lovely move from the home side. Spurs’ ability to slow the game down and control it was proving frustrating for Passmoor’s side.
Despite Leicester’s best efforts, they struggled for quality at the crucial moments despite finding themselves in good positions, with Tottenham able to hold on to their 1-2 lead and take the three points.
Spurs played out the additional seven minutes, staying organised and resisting the Leicester pressure to get their third league win of this campaign.
Player of the match – Olivia Holdt
Holdt’s delicate finish in the first period proved to be the eventual match-winner, and she produced some quality moments on the right-side throughout the game.
Holdt is proving to be a crucial player so far for Martin Ho’s side this season, scoring two goals in as many games. The Danish winger also wasn’t afraid of getting stuck in, winning 10 out of her 15 duals, as well as being fouled five times, proving tricky to come up against.
An honourable mention to Amanda Nildén at left-back, who dealt with Hannah Cain well and was key to Tottenham being able to get over the line.
Above: Olivia Holdt. Photo: Tottenham official website
Final thoughts
It was a positive outing for Tottenham Hotspur as they were victorious, and Ho would have been happy with how his side managed the second half in-particular to see out the win. It could have maybe been a more comfortable victory but claiming the three points was the main thing.
Leicester are still looking to be settling in this season under the new appointment of Passmoor, which was made just 11 days before the start of the season. There were plenty of positives to take, and the Foxes were able to make a game out of it after a slow start. That fighting spirit will be valued going forward.
TEAMS: LEICESTER CITY (3-4-2-1): Leitzig, Cayman, Kees, Thibaud, Payne, Tierney, McLoughlin, Ale, Cain, Eiríksdóttir; Van Egmond. Substitutes: Rantala (forEiríksdóttir 58’), Swaby (for Payne 58’), O’Brien (for Cain 73’), Mouchon (for Cayman 80’)
Scorers: Tierney 40’
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (4-2-3-1): Kop, Rybrink, Koga, Hunt, Nildén, Summanen, Spence, Holdt, England, Naz, Tandberg. Substitues:,Ahtinen (for Spence 45’), Dennis (for Naz 59’), Neville (for Rybrink 65’), Graham (for England 65’), Thomas (for Holdt 80’).
Scorers: Tandberg 15’, Holdt 21’
Attendance: TBC
Referee: Harrison Blair
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