Tottenham Hotspur 1–2 Tokyo Verdy Beleza on 17 August 2022

A stunning late strike from Azusa Iwashimizu saw Spurs Women fall to a 2-1 defeat to Tokyo Verdy Beleza in the 2022 Women’s Cup on Wednesday afternoon.

Having fallen behind on 19 minutes following a fine finish from Riko Ueki, we responded well and eventually levelled on 57 minutes with second-half substitute Rosella Ayane finding the target. As both sides pressed for a winner though, it was our Japanese opponents that proved the more clinical as Iwashimizu clipped home on the half-volley in the 82nd minute to see them take victory.

In searing heat and high humidity in the Bluegrass state, our opponents started the brighter of the two sides, enjoying large spells of possessions as they moved the ball around swiftly. Within the first minute, they could have been in the lead through Oto Kanna, only for her shot to be blocked bravely by Eveliina Summanen. Almost 10 minutes later, they then certainly should have been the lead only for Momoka Kinoshita to blaze over from a couple of yards out.

On 19 minutes though, they did make the breakthrough as a ball down the right was picked up by Ueki and she struck it sweetly from the channel, across Becky Spencer and into the far corner of the net. Kitamura could have then doubled that advantage on 27 minutes from the opposite channel, but she drove her effort into the side netting.

The Japanese side had dominated in the early stage but, after the hydration break on the 30-minute mark, we begun to come back into proceedings and had several opportunities to level - twice through Celin Bizet and then via an clever free-kick from Summanen, however all efforts failed to test goalkeeper Momoko Tanaka.

After the break, the encounter became much more an end-to-end affair as both sides carved out opportunities. For Tokyo, both Nanami Kitamura and Asato Miyagawa worked shooting chances from inside the box, but each of their efforts were easily claimed by Spencer. Molly Bartrip then went close for us as she claimed the ball off the toes of a defender before breaking into the box – her shot though was also comfortably saved by the Verdy ‘keeper Tanaka.

On 56 minutes, we should have then been level as a raking pass from Shelina Zadorsky set away Ayane but, as Tanaka came racing off her line, our number 23 couldn’t find the target as she instinctively attempted a lob from 30 yards out. Yet, within a minute of that opportunity, the striker did equalise for us as she received the ball in the box before dispatching it into the far corner of the net. Jess Naz could have then flipped the game on its head six minutes later as she was released by Ayane before cutting inside. Her eventual shot, however, was straight at the goalkeeper.

From that point though, the game was largely in the control of the opposition as they pressed for a winner. Twice Ueki came close to scoring once more, first denied by a smart block from Bartrip before glancing a header just wide from a corner. Bartrip was then called on to prevent Ueki once again.

On 82 minutes, Verdy did eventually find a way though but it required a moment of magic as veteran centre-back Iwashimizu popped up in the box to hit home a half volley. We did have a chance to strike back late in injury time as Ashleigh Neville was won the ball back in the final third to open up a free run on goal, however Tanaka came out bravely to claim the ball and ensure victory for Tokyo.