Report: Palace Women beat Spurs on penalties in Subway Players Cup

After a 1-1 draw in regular time, a penalty shootout victory sees us earn two points in the Players Cup.

Summary:

Considerable rotation in the Players Cup once again, as Potter makes nine changes to the squad that beat Charlton on Sunday.

• 14: Panengstuen makes a diving save to deny Sharpe from a corner
• 21: GOAL - England bags against her former club with a lovely finish into the bottom right corner
• 35: Yañez saves well from Martinez's close-range effort
• 39: Martinez works a similar chance, but again the Palace stopper prevails
• HT: Spurs 0-1 Palace
• 52: Vinberg misses from outside the box
• 75: Goal - Blakstad equalises with a well-worked shot at the back post
• 77: Larkin almost puts Palace ahead immediatedly, but her effort is blocked
• FT: Spurs 0-1 Palace
• Yañez saves Tandberg's penalty and Enge scores our fifth to secure an extra point in the Players Cup!

Crystal Palace Women earned two points from their trip to Tottenham Hotspur in the Subway Players Cup, after a 5-3 penalty shootout victory.

League phase games that end in a draw go straight to penalties, with the winning team earning an additional point.

Bethany England put Palace ahead in the first-half with a wonderful finish, before Julie Blakstad equalised for the hosts on 75 minutes.

Shae Yañez proved to be the difference maker during the shootout, as she saved Cathinka Tandberg's well-hit penalty.

Palace were clinical with their spot-kicks, with everyone in red and blue converting from the spot.

Palace took the lead with a really well-worked goal on the 21st minute.

Ashleigh Weerden found a pocket of space and picked out Molly-Mae Sharpe, who had moved into an advanced position.

Sharpe played a superb first-time pass in behind the defence, which England latched onto.

The former Spurs striker made no mistake - picking out the bottom right corner with pinpoint accuracy.

Whilst they didn't have a lot of the ball, Palace went into the break 1-0 up.

Blakstad would level proceedings on the 75th minute with an accurate volley at the back post, meaning the game was destined for spot-kicks.

Abbie Larkin nearly put Palace ahead just moments later, but she saw her effort blocked by the onrushing defenders.

Spurs would look to turn the screw but Yañez stood firm in the Palace net.

The full-time whistle went, and Palace were heading to penalties.

Annabel Blanchard - who had taken the captain's armband - stepped to take the first spot-kick, and she dispatched it emphatically.

Spurs converted their first, before Molly Bartrip scored from the spot against her old club.

The crucial moment then came when Tandberg stepped up and aimed her penalty towards the right-side.

Yañez guessed correctly and palmed the ball to safety, meaning Palace just needed to score their remaining three penalties.

Fuka Tsunoda, Abbie Larkin and then Sierra Enge made no mistake - and Palace had their extra point in the Players Cup.

This result positions Palace in ninth-place, with it all to play for on the final day against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Tickets for that game are on sale now, click below to get yours!

Spurs: Panengstuen (GK), Morris, A Nilden, Gaupset, Vinberg, M Nilden (Holdt, 55), Hanson (Gunning-Williams, 80), Martinez (Tandberg, 55), Wijk (Blakstad, 55), Pelova (Spence, 55), Koga

Subs not used: Kop (GK), Dijkstra, Naz, Pierre

Palace: Yañez (GK), Napier, Enge, Sharpe (Lloyd-Smith, 65), England (Larkin, 65), Weerden (Blanchard, 65), Cosme, Nolan, Hopcroft (Tsunoda, 65), Swaby, Bartrip

Subs not used: Erhabor (GK), Everett, Ladd, Goldie, Moynihan