By Charlie Burrell
Manchester United
STARTING XI: Tullis-Joyce (GK), Sandberg, Le Tissier , Blundell, Toone, Park, Terland, Rolfo, Janssen, Zigiotti Olme, Miyazawa
Subs: Malard (58’), Naaslund (62‘), Awujo (91‘),
Tottenham Hotspur
STARTING XI: Kop (GK), Nilde, England, Holdt, Vinberg, Hunt, Thomas, Spence, Summanen, Neville, Koga
Subs: Gunning-Williams (64‘), Dennis (83‘)
A week on from the WSL clash that saw United make up a 3 goal deficit between the 74th and 94th minutes, each side returned to The Progress and Unity Stadium for a rematch that’ll decide who will progress into the Subway League Cup semi-finals.
Despite Tottenham’s clinical goal scoring in the WSL matchup, they lost the 3 goal lead against the home side leaving a lot of anticipation for this weekend’s rematch where a draw wouldn’t suffice as each side aim to book a place in the Subway League Cup semi-finals.
Martin Ho made no changes for this repeat fixture against Manchester United but Skinner’s reds having played a mid-week Champion’s League fixtures see Malard to the bench in place of Zigiotti Olme, and Rolfo make a second consecutive start since her key role in United’s comeback a week ago. Blundell was switched out for Gabbie George, covering for Jayde Riviere who was unavailable for the second game in a row after the clash against Tottenham last week left Riviere with a knock.
Blundell was also presented her England legacy cap by teammate Ella Toone, an acknowledgement of the defender having made 3 appearances for the Lionesses in 2018.
Immediately after kick-off Tottenham showed the same kind of fight as last week, having a couple of free kicks won in the first 5 minutes, and the first shot of the game, albeit an off-target chance missed by England as her header went wide to the left.
Despite Zigiotti Olme presented with an opportunity to thread a ball centrally for Terland, the Norwegian forward was unable to turn and keep on her feet.
In the 13th minute Holdt was set up for a clear shot against United keeper Tullis-Joyce who made the necessary save, sending it out for a corner.
Only 3 minutes later in the 16th minute, Drew Spence sent Tottenham ahead with a volley which seemed inevitable after their dominance in attacking in the opening 15 minutes. The chance came after a clearance by Le Tissier who headed the ball directly at Spence, who had plenty of time to let the ball drop and bounce back up for the volley into the top left, unreachable by Tullis-Joyce.
Having gone behind, United responded with multiple shots of their own, but struggled to put one on target. Toone’s shot from outside the box with her left foot went wide in the 20th.
In the 24th minute, a foul on Zigiotti Olme, led to a booking for Drew Spence and a direct freekick attempt that was curled over the crossbar by Sandberg.
In this time of constant attack from the red side, Kop remained steady and brave in goal, coming out to claim and punch balls sent in from crosses and and corners sent in by United.
In the last 10 minutes of the first half, Tottenham picked back up on holding possession long enough to make it into United’s defensive half where in the 40th minute, Thomas made a wide shot left of the post, and a corner was blocked by Tullis-Joyce, and cleared by Park.
The first half ended 1-0 to the visitors, but Manchester United came out seemingly calmer on the ball and Tottenham letting more mistakes creep in for the home side to reset.
An equaliser was reached by the 51st minute as Neville failed to stop Rolfo’s low pass cut back into the box allowed Park, unmarked, to strike it into the bottom right corner.
Whilst possession continued to be exchanged in the midfield, United remained the more likely side to score a winner after another chance, this time a shot to the bottom left by Janssen, was saved by Kop.
Just a minute later, Malard replaced Terland in leading the front line, and Toone was taken off for Naaslund in minute 62 after she took herself to the floor for medical attention after an injury off the ball.
Spurs also took out Thomas with Gunnin-Willaims a minute later replacing her on the left wing.
An important save from Kop came in the 69th minute as a Malard set up Rolfo for a shot in the bottom left corner.
After the substitutes from United, Tottenham looked better and started to make their own way forward into United’s defensive half with England forcing a save from Tullis-Joyce but the decision favoured a goal kick for the home side.
More subs made by the visitors in the 83nd minute brought in Dennis for Holdt, but United picked up steam once again, peppering Tottenham’s defense in an attempt to get a winner over the line.
A winner for Manchester United came in the 86th from Fridolina Rolfo as she made the same run as Park did for her goal, drifting centrally into the box to shoot a low pass from Malard into the top left corner.
United made a final substitution in the 91st minute, bringing in Awujo as Blundell who has had a good time linking up with Park on the right side despite strong pressure from Tottenham throughout the match.
Despite a turn in possession and attack favouring Tottenham in search of an equaliser, a 94th minute cross from Hunt from the right went all the left side but no one was there and Summanen almost threaded a pass for Gunning-Williams but was blocked by United’s defense.
A final run from Gunning-Willaims was thwarted by the defensive work of Zigiotti Olme guiding the ball out of play. After 96th without the equaliser needed, Tottenham were knocked out of the competition and allowed Skinner’s red devils to succeed into the semi-finals.
With yet another important goal and assist, Fridolina Rolfo has proven to be a key player in the squad since her summer signing and Manchester United finish 2025 with a second key win despite performances dipping as the season has gone on.
Despite the lost points last week and the knockout today, Martin Ho has turned Tottenham Hotspurs around from their form last season and is ending 2025 5th in the league and 2 points from a champion’s league spot which North London rivals Arsenal currently hold.
Manchester United will travel away to face Arsenal in the semi-finals of the Subway Women’s League Cup on January 21st 2026.