Catarina Macario’s 35th-minute penalty helped Chelsea earn a 1-0 win at Tottenham to move within touching distance of becoming the first club to go through a 22-game Women’s Super League campaign unbeaten.

Sonia Bompastor’s team celebrated title success after victory at Manchester United on Wednesday and followed it up with a professional display in north London to go a 21st match without defeat ahead of next Saturday’s final-day fixture at home to Liverpool.

Spurs slipped to a 12th loss of a poor campaign, but Robert Vilahamn would have taken encouragement from a strong display against the WSL champions at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Chelsea were given a guard of honour by Spurs, but the formalities ended there with an early Jess Naz effort blocked for the hosts before visiting keeper Hannah Hampton cut out Bethany England’s cross ahead of Charlotte Grant.

It was Tottenham, without a victory since January, who continued to look the more threatening as Olivia Holdt’s powerful shot was deflected behind by Chelsea captain Erin Cuthbert after an Ashleigh Neville cut-back.

Bompastor’s champions had struggled to match their midweek levels, but after the half-hour mark they were given an opportunity to go ahead when Neville needlessly brought down Macario in the area.

Referee Melissa Burgin pointed to the spot and Macario picked herself up to send Lize Kop the wrong way for her 10th goal this season.

It initially knocked Spurs but they should have levelled in the 42nd minute when Drew Spence played in Grant but Hampton stood up well to ensure it was 1-0 at half-time.

Eveliina Summanen went close for Tottenham with a 25-yard free-kick straight after the break before Maika Hamano almost doubled Chelsea’s advantage only for Kop to impressively claw away her curled effort.

Chelsea defender Naomi Girma, the world’s most expensive female player, was introduced with 28 minutes left as the away side went in search of a second goal.

Hamano should have provided it in the 71st minute when she was teed up by Macario, but the Japan midfielder lifted her shot over the crossbar.

Vilahamn turned to his bench soon after with Amanda Nilden and Martha Thomas sent on in an attempt to find a late leveller.

However, Spurs needed goalkeeper Kop to produce an excellent double save to deny Ashley Lawrence and Sjoeke Nusken after 89 minutes and keep the deficit to one.

Six minutes of additional time provided a grandstand finish, but Chelsea held on to stay on track to become the first club to remain unbeaten in a single WSL season since it was increased to 22 games.