Albion 1 Spurs 2: Late goals mean it's defeat at the Amex

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Madison Haley scored her fifth goal in seven games before Tottenham scored twice in the closing stages.

Luke Nicoli

2026-05-16T15:15+01:00

A hug for Madison Haley from Manuela Vanegas after Haley opened the scoring. 📷Paul Hazlewood

Albion women ended their WSL campaign with an agonisingly late 2-1 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur at the American Express Stadium.

With the game heading for what would have been a deserved point apiece, Toko Koga netted with a stunning 92nd-minute lob that took the points back to north London.

Albion came into the fixture having registered a five-game unbeaten league run – the longest in the club’s WSL history – while Spurs arrived at the Amex having already secured their record points tally in the top flight.

The Albion team line up before kick-off at the Amex. 📷Paul Hazlewood

The Seagulls, who were also looking for their highest-ever points tally in the top flight, had the better of the opening exchanges but it was Spurs who created the game’s first opening when Olivia Holdt attempted to chip Sophie Baggaley – in goal for the rested Chiamaka Nnadozie – from 25 yards out.

Albion responded with a cross-shot from Kiko Seike which Spurs keeper Lize Kop pushed wide while Signe Gaupset also tested Baggaley from distance for the visitors.

Maisie Symonds with Dario Vidosic and Zoe Johnson, managing director of women's and girls' football, after she was presented with a framed shirt to mark her 100th appearance. 📷Paul Hazlewood

Tottenham had started to get more of a foothold in the game, with Gaupset causing problems with her runs between the lines. On 23 minutes she slipped in Cathinka Tandberg who bore down on goal, only to see her effort fall the wrong side of the post.

Spurs had a golden chance to open the deadlock 13 minutes later when Gaupset played another delightful through ball, this time to Matilda Vinberg, but Baggaley was equal to the effort with a fine one-handed save. The visitors also put pressure on the Albion goal from a couple of late first-half corners but it was honours even at the break.

Fran Kirby tries to go round Spurs' keeper Lize Kop. 📷Paul Hazlewood

Albion started the second half brightly and opened the deadlock on 49 minutes when Fran Kirby released Seike down the right. She then cut inside the box to fire a low effort at goal and while Kop got a hand to the ball, Madison Haley reacted first to net her fifth goal in six games.

Jelena Cankovic also saw a long-range effort saved by the Spurs keeper while Tandberg hit the post at the other end – her blushes saved by the assistant referee’s flag. The striker also miscued a header with the goal gaping soon after and she found herself replaced by Bethany England – the club’s all-time leading WSL scorer making her final appearance in a Tottenham shirt.

It gave the visitors a lift and with nine minutes remaining Holdt pounced on some indecision inside the Albion box, following a Lenna Gunning-Williams right-wing cross, to fire the ball into the roof of the net.

Charlie Rule at full stretch keeps the ball in play. 📷Paul Hazlewood

Maisie Symonds’ cushioned effort curled agonisingly wide on her 100th Albion appearance before Spurs stole the points in injury time when Baggeley raced out of her box to clear a ball. It fell at the feet of Koga who, some 35 yards out, sent the ball back over the head of the keeper and into the back of the net.

There was another big attendance at the Amex. 📷Paul Hazlewood

Albion deserved more but despite the defeat, it failed to dampen the crowd’s spirits after what has been a fantastic second half to the season. Attention now turns to the historic Women’s FA Cup Final on 31 May at Wembley Stadium.

Albion: Baggaley, Rule (Mpome 64), Hayes, Minami, Vanegas, Cankovic, Symonds, Seike, (Kafaji 82), Olislagers (Tvedten 90), Haley, Kirby (Noordam 64). Subs not used: Nnadozie, Camacho, McLauchlan, Rayner, Tsunoda.