WSL: Mia Fishel and Lauren James on the scoresheet as WSL Champions start with a gritty victory

Goals in either half from Mia Fishel and Lauren James earned the Champions all three points with Martha Thomas' late strike serving only as a consolation for the away side.

With the season starting at the back of an international break and with several players at various fitness levels following their involvement at this summer's World Cup, Emma Hayes sent out probably not her best XI but her fittest XI and debuts were handed to young USWNT forward, Fishel in the absence of Sam Kerr and Sjoeke Nüsken.

Chelsea, seeking their fifth consecutive WSL title, struggled to get going against a new-look but determined Spurs squad. They did break the deadlock in the 28th minute, thanks to a debut goal from Fishel.

After some good play down the left, Niamh Charles's lovely touch and cross set up Fishel to power home a header into the bottom corner of Becky Spencer's net.

Chelsea looked to build on this goal but it was the away side who had the best opportunity to score before half time when Drew Spence slipped Thomas in on goal only for her to be denied twice, firstly by a good save by Zećira Mušović and then a goal-line clearance by Chelsea Captain Millie Bright deep into injury time.

Chelsea came out flying in the second half, battering Tottenham's goal until it gave way.

Replays showed that the ball had crossed the line when Guro Reiten bundled in after Fishel's initial effort was parried, but in the absence of goalline technology, the call was overturned. It didn't matter because Reiten recycled the ball out wide to Charles who then delivered a lovely cross for Lauren James, who made no mistake from close range.

Chelsea boss Emma Hayes said it is "embarrassing" that Reiten's goal was not given when "everyone in the stadium knows it has gone in".

"I want to know why we are not investing in it," she told Sky Sports. "Yes there is always room for human error but that is what VAR should be there for".

"I said to the fourth official, 'I bet you are glad that James scored straight away'. If this is the top level of football, the Premier League of women's football, we need to have VAR in all games."

Tottenham pulled one back in the 76th minute when Thomas capitalized on a Mušović error, but couldn't find an leveller despite piling pressure on the hosts.

SportsLigue