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Walsh strikes as Chelsea beat battling Spurs

Keira Walsh of Chelsea celebrates scoringGetty Images

At a glance

Defending champions Chelsea get first win in three games

Keira Walsh's stunning strike breaks deadlock in second half

Tottenham suffer second defeat of the season

Chelsea extend unbeaten WSL run to 31 matches

Adwaidh Rajan

BBC Sport journalist

Chelsea posted their first win in three matches as the reigning champions defeated Tottenham in the Women's Super League at Kingsmeadow.

Sonia Bompastor's side, who were held to back-to-back draws by Manchester United last weekend and Twente in the Champions League, were frustrated by Spurs despite dominating the first half.

But the Blues secured a much-needed three points courtesy of a stunning second-half strike from Keira Walsh - the England midfielder's first WSL goal since 2021.

Chelsea set the tone early as club record signing Alyssa Thompson flashed an effort wide from the left, before Nathalie Bjorn headed wide from first of the 13 corner kicks the Blues won in the first half.

But with the defending champions once again struggling to convert in front of the goal, their best chance of the half fell to Wieke Kaptein, who failed to turn in a cross from Johanna Rytting Kaneryd when unmarked in front of the goal.

Thompson tested Spurs keeper Lize Kop with a fierce shot soon after the restart, while Ellie Carpenter's effort from distance sailed inches over.

When Walsh's right-foot effort from range finally beat Kop and nestled into the bottom corner, it was Chelsea's 23rd effort of the game.

The victory moved them to 16 points from six matches at the top of the table, while Tottenham are now four points adrift.

More to follow.

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21N. Charles

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30K. Walsh

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2E. Carpenter

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18W. Kaptein

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1L. Kop

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18L. Gunning-Williams

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17M. Thomas

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