Khadija Shaw boosted Manchester City's Women's Super League title bid with a hat-trick as they came from behind to beat struggling Tottenham Hotspur.
Celin Bizet's opener stunned the Blues as Spurs threatened to repeat last season's shock win at Academy Stadium.
Shaw equalised with a header before half-time, made it 2-1 with a penalty and struck late to seal victory that lifted City up to second place.
The win is boss Gareth Taylor's 73rd in 100 games in charge of the club.
City have won more games (10) and more points (32) since the beginning of October than any other Women's Super League side.
They sought a fast start here, Shaw flashing across the face of goal, Lauren Hemp dragging wide and Chloe Kelly almost finding the bottom corner.
In contrast, struggling Spurs arrived on a seven-match losing streak, the worst in their history.
Any assumptions about a straightforward home win were ended when Bizet slotted the visitors into the lead midway through the first half.
At that point keeper Tinja-Riikka Korpela was proving unbeatable, pulling off outstanding saves to deny Shaw (twice) and Kelly.
However, WSL top scorer Shaw was not to be denied, with quickfire goals before and after half-time breaking Spurs' resistance.
Her first was a header after Korpela's save was recycled back into the box and her second, a confident stroke of a penalty following Ashleigh Neville's foul on Kelly.
City were generally in control but on the break, Spurs should have equalised only for Nikola Karczewska spooned over after Rosella Ayane had been brilliantly denied by Ellie Roebuck.
The points were secured when Shaw broke through two challenges and fired into the roof of net for her seventh goal in two games after netting four in the FA Cup last week at Bristol City.
Defeat leaves Spurs 10th in the table and nervously contemplating the improving form of sides below them.
Taylor reaches 100 not out as Shaw impresses
Taylor was appointed in May 2020 after managing the men's academy team and has finished second and third during his two full seasons in charge.
The former City striker has designs on going one better this campaign but faces a fierce challenge from champions Chelsea and leaders Manchester United, who earlier extended their lead at the top of the Women's Super League with a 5-1 victory over Leicester.
This win moves City second, above Chelsea, who now have two games in hand as a result of playing in Sunday's League Cup final.
Indeed, City still have both of their main title rivals left to play, with a visit to Old Trafford scheduled for the penultimate week of the season.
To remain in contention, Taylor will need similarly threatening displays from Shaw, who had 11 shots in this game, five of them on target, and moved three goals clear of Aston Villa's Rachel Daly in the race to be top scorer.
The Jamaica striker is an imposing target and her lethal form proved far too much for this fragile Spurs defence.
After a trip to Brighton on Sunday, 12 March, City's following two WSL games are against Chelsea and Arsenal.
Taylor will know much more about his side's title credentials after those fixtures.
Line-ups
Man City Women
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Roebuck
- 4AleixandriBooked at 49mins
- 6HoughtonBooked at 73minsSubstituted forMorganat 85'minutes
- 5GreenwoodBooked at 90mins
- 15OuahabiSubstituted forStokesat 89'minutes
- 12Angeldahl
- 25Hasegawa
- 9Kelly
- 7CoombsSubstituted forCastellanosat 84'minutes
- 11HempSubstituted forBlakstadat 84'minutes
- 21ShawSubstituted forFowlerat 89'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Casparij
- 3Stokes
- 8Fowler
- 10Castellanos
- 14Morgan
- 22MacIver
- 41Blakstad
- 42Dahou
Tottenham Women
Formation 5-4-1
- 1Korpela
- 14Bizet Ildhusøy
- 4Turner
- 5Bartrip
- 6Harrop
- 29Neville
- 23AyaneSubstituted forGrahamat 64'minutes
- 15James
- 24SpenceBooked at 34minsSubstituted forChoat 84'minutes
- 20Iwabuchi
- 9KarczewskaSubstituted forGunning-Williamsat 90+2'minutes
Substitutes
- 8Cho
- 13Ale
- 16Graham
- 18Ubogagu
- 22Spencer
- 37Houghton
- 39Gunning-Williams
- Referee:
- Abigail Byrne
Match Stats
Live Text
Match ends, Manchester City Women 3, Tottenham Hotspur Women 1.
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