Match reportRoman Haug scores twice as Liverpool draw with Spurs in WSL

The striker gave the Reds an early lead at St Helens Stadium, though the visitors rallied to secure a half-time lead thanks to an unfortunate Rachael Laws own goal and a Clare Hunt finish.

Roman Haug ensured interim head coach Amber Whiteley’s side at least took a point from the fixture, though, with a back-post header soon after the break.

Spurs posed the first threat amid the sunshine in St Helens.

In the 10th minute, Bethany England held off several challenges as she weaved into the area, and then clipped a shot across goal that Laws dealt with well, pushing around the post.

Liverpool got themselves in front just moments later. The visitors were unable to clear a corner towards the near post from the left and Gemma Bonner kept the ball alive.

When it rolled out to Roman Haug at close range, the Norway international was clinical with a low finish sent firmly into the back of the net.

They could have doubled that lead on 21 minutes as Jenna Clark – making her 50th Reds appearance – embarked on a long dribble from her own half to the Tottenham box. She fed Roman Haug, whose looping effort went harmlessly wide.

And the momentum swung again soon after.

Jessica Naz lifted a cross in from the left channel that Grace Fisk looked to head away. But the ball crashed off her own bar, struck Laws and drifted back over the line despite Fisk’s efforts to clear.

Spurs then took the lead a minute past the half-hour as a deep corner kick from the left-hand side was touched into the bottom corner by Hunt from yards out.

The half ended with a series of Liverpool near-misses.

Clark was close with a drive from more than 20 yards out after another enterprising dribble, before Lize Kop kept out a curler from Ceri Holland having been teed up in the area by Roman Haug.

Kop also had to tip over a right-wing cross from Clark that was swirling towards the opposite top corner, ensuring the visitors remained ahead at the interval.

But that changed six minutes after the restart.

A short-corner routine from the Reds on the left flank allowed for the delivery of a tempting cross to the far post that Roman Haug nodded back across goal with sufficient power to get through the gloves of Kop.

Naz lobbed a good effort from a narrow angle just the wrong side of the upright, though that proved to be one of the last real threats of normal time.

The final phases were largely scrappy and stop-start despite the efforts of both sides and the score stayed locked at 2-2.

During a more eventful 10 minutes of stoppage time to complete the game, Liverpool looked the likelier to find a winner.

But Mia Enderby and Marie Höbinger were blocked out in a goalmouth scramble before Kop made a crucial reaction save to thwart Clark from a Reds corner.

The final chance did go to the away team, however. With practically the last touch of the afternoon, substitute Martha Thomas was picked out in the middle but flicked a header narrowly wide of the left post.

Team

Liverpool: Laws, Clark (Evans, 90+12), Fisk, Bonner, Hinds, Kerr, Nagano (Enderby, 73), Höbinger, Holland, Smith, Roman H. (Kapocs, 56).

Unused subs: Micah, Parry, Fahey, Matthews, Bartel, Daniels.

Next up

The Reds return to Anfield next Sunday (May 4) for their penultimate fixture of the campaign, against Everton.

Kick-off is 12pm BST and tickets and hospitality can be booked online here.