Janina Leitzig’s early own goal gifts Tottenham victory against Leicester

Tottenham ground out a no-frills 1-0 victory over Leicester in the Women’s Super League following Janina Leitzig’s early own goal at Brisbane Road.

Leicester goalkeeper Leitzig was unable to keep out Amanda Nilden’s cross after just four minutes in what proved the difference between the two sides.

Tottenham captain Bethany England rattled the crossbar in the closing moments, as Spurs saw out the victory which takes them up to sixth in the table.

The Foxes remain one off the bottom as their search for a first WSL win since October 20 continues.

Leicester finished 2024 with an impressive 1-1 draw at leaders Chelsea – a performance they will have hoped to carry over to their opening fixture of the new year.

But Amandine Miquel’s side were behind with less than four minutes on the clock in a moment Leitzig will want to forget in a hurry.

Maite Oroz played through Nilden and her cross into the penalty area appeared to catch Leitzig by surprise, ricocheting off the Leicester goalkeeper and into her own net.

Spurs might have hoped to build on Leitzig’s mistake with a second but as the first half wore on, the visitors grew into the fixture and Janice Cayman should have hauled her side level midway through the opening period.

Saori Takarada’s fine pass found her team-mate in space in the box, but with goalkeeper Lize Kop, who moved to Spurs from Leicester only four days ago, out of position, Cayman somehow fired wide from six yards.

Ruby Mace then tested Kop from range with the Spurs stopper producing a comfortable save.

Spurs could count themselves fortunate to be leading at the break and they set about extending their lead without reward after the interval.

Indeed, both sides were struggling to create any clear-cut chances in a second half lacking in quality.

England came the closest to scoring the game’s second goal when she rattled the Leicester crossbar from 30 yards with five minutes left.

But despite being well below their best, Robert Vilahamn’s side kept Leicester at bay to kick off 2025 with all three points