BIRMINGHAM (Interstat) — Tottenham W scored three times before Birmingham W found the net and completed a 4-1 football victory Sunday at St. Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park in Birmingham. Tottenham W improved to 2 wins and 3 losses in the competition and 4 wins and 3 losses across all competitions. Birmingham W moved to 1 win, 2 losses and 2 draws in the competition and 2 wins, 4 losses and 2 draws across all competitions. The match was a rematch of contrasting recent form, with Tottenham W looking to build on a high-scoring result and Birmingham W seeking another home response.

Tottenham W took control late in the first half. Julie Blakstad scored in the 37th minute to open the scoring, and Tottenham W carried that lead into halftime. Olivia Holdt doubled the advantage in the 50th minute, and Signe Gaupset made it 3-0 in the 53rd. The visitors kept the pressure on after the break, scoring twice in the first eight minutes of the second half. Holdt, Blakstad and Pelova each played 90 minutes and scored for Tottenham W, while Gaupset scored in 60 minutes of action. Victoria Pelova later added a goal and an assist and was shown a yellow card. Tottenham W’s attacking spacing and quick finishes put Birmingham W under pressure for long stretches.

Birmingham W responded in the 64th minute when Neve Herron scored. Herron played the full match and gave the home side a foothold, but Birmingham W could not build on the goal. Birmingham W pushed after Herron’s goal, but Tottenham W answered with Pelova’s finish. Oceane Hurtre also played the full match for Birmingham W and recorded an assist and a yellow card. Tottenham W restored a three-goal cushion in the 84th minute when Pelova scored the final goal. Cathinka Tandberg recorded an assist in 76 minutes for Tottenham W, and Shekiera Martinez had an assist in 14 minutes.

The match was physical at times. Yellow cards went to Tottenham W’s M. Vinberg in the 30th minute, Birmingham W’s Hurtre in the 36th, Tottenham W’s Pelova in the 45th, Birmingham W’s L. Naalsund in the 49th and Tottenham W’s C. Dijkstra in the 69th. Birmingham W made a halftime change with S. Amano entering. Tottenham W made two changes in the 60th minute, replacing Gaupset and Vinberg. Birmingham W brought on Geum-Min and S. Cooke in the 67th. Tottenham W introduced E. Summanen in the 69th and then brought on Tandberg and Dijkstra in the 76th. Birmingham W replaced Naalsund in the 85th.

Tottenham W’s victory followed a 6-1 win at Bristol City W, while Birmingham W had lost 2-1 at Aston Villa W in its previous match. Birmingham W had also beaten Charlton W 1-0 at home and drawn 1-1 at Arsenal W in recent competition play. Tottenham W had also lost to Arsenal W and Chelsea W in recent matches. Tottenham W’s attack produced four goals from a range of scorers, with Blakstad, Holdt, Gaupset and Pelova each finding the net. Birmingham W’s goal came from Herron, with Hurtre credited for an assist. Tottenham W also received assists from Pelova, Tandberg and Martinez. Birmingham W’s record in the competition now stands at 1 win, 2 losses and 2 draws, while Tottenham W is 2 wins and 3 losses in the competition.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Birmingham W 2, Tottenham W 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Birmingham W with a 54.6 percent probability to win. Tottenham W had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -0.5. The total score was 5 against an over/under line of 3.5.