Manchester United just about secured their second win of the campaign today at Walton Hall Park, as Everton suffered another loss and what looked to be another potentially serious injury.
Shortly after Grace Clinton capitalised on a defensive error to put United ahead, Everton’s Inma Gabarro was stretchered off. The hosts played well for much of the first half and United couldn’t extend their lead before the interval.
Despite a host of changes from both managers in the second half, strong performances from both goalkeepers prevented any further score. It was a slightly underwhelming game from United – but one Everton will take plenty of positives from.
As it happened
An unchanged Manchester United side started with intent on Merseyside, and it didn’t take long for them to take the lead. After a couple of speculative early chances,Grace Clinton pounced on a misjudged cross-goal pass by Justine Vanhaevermaet. The midfielder’s lovely skill left Megan Finnigan on the ground and she finished neatly past Brosnan into the top corner, with the Toffees having made their lives much harder in the opening five minutes.
Embed from Getty ImagesUnited did their level best to return the favour, though. Only a few minutes later, Katja Snoeijs stole the ball from Millie Turner on the edge of the area and Phallon Tullis-Joyce had to come out and smother her shot. It became an end-to-end opening phase: Ella Toone’s attempt was immediately deflected out at the other end of the pitch, and a blocked effort from Inma Gabarro followed. To Everton’s credit, it looked that United would have to work hard to keep their lead.
Their day was about to get much worse, though. When chasing down the ball side-by-side with Leah Galton, Gabarro landed horribly and was clearly in serious pain. Though she tried to get to her feet after several minutes of treatment, the Spaniard eventually needed a stretcher to leave the playing area and Veatriki Sarri replaced her.
That lengthy stoppage took the sting out of what had been a frantic game, and the rest of the half more staid. The hosts began to string more passes together as they went in search of an equaliser. They pulled together well despite their forced change and early concession, passing confidently, but couldn’t make the most of their possession. Clare Wheeler’s inviting cross across the face of goal didn’t find a teammate; Karoline Olesen’s inswinging freekick from just outside the area drifted harmlessly out of play. Though Everton’s through balls penetrated the United midfield with relative ease at times, they only registered two shots on target. There was also a caution apiece at halftime, with Jayde Riviere and Snoeijs booked in the 44th minute.
Embed from Getty ImagesUnited improved in the eight minutes of stoppage time and they had the last chance of the half. Ella Toone floated a freekick into Everton’s box, but Snoeijs headed away easily. Despite taking an early lead, Marc Skinner would surely give his side points to improve on at the break. Everton were far from out of the game.
Brian Sørensen’s team started the second half brightly, calling Tullis-Joyce into action after a freekick near the corner flag. However, the visitors quickly kicked into gear. Toone’s newfound freedom on the left wing saw her take the chance to skip past a couple of defenders and play the ball into the box, but Dominique Janssen couldn’t sort her feet out to finish it. Moments later, Elisabeth Terland – in search of her first goal in red – put an effort wide of the far post.
Everton had their chances to level. Sara Holmgaard fed a couple of promising crosses through to the Toffees’ front line, but Tullis-Joyce remained alert to stop a header on target from Lucy Hope. With 25 minutes to play, both managers rolled the dice with several changes. Hope, Snoeijs and Olesen made way for Toni Payne, Emma Bissell, and Heather Payne as Everton continued to seek their first points. Skinner, meanwhile, sought to sharpen United’s attack with the introduction of Celin Bizet, Melvine Malard, and Simi Awujo for Terland, Lisa Naalsund, and Geyse.
Embed from Getty ImagesNeither side’s changes could impact the score, though. Malard came closest with a flicked header that was wide of the post, but as the clock ticked into the 70s it remained 0-1. A move that started all the way at the back with Tullis-Joyce looked promising but ended up in the arms of her opposite number Brosnan. Moments later, United wasted another promising chance to counter from Honoka Hayashi’s freekick as Bizet was caught offside. United were finishing the game much stronger and Skinner continued to add energy, bringing on on Hinata Miyazawa in place of Ella Toone, but it couldn’t make a difference. Even Janssen had a pop from a freekick and though Brosnan was worried enough to leap for it, it was over the bar.
The biggest chances came in the last ten minutes of the game as Everton desperately sought an equaliser and United hunted a more convincing result. Malard, who added a real threat for United after coming on, used her strength to steal the ball from between Brosnan and Elise Stenevik and laid it off to Miyazawa in the box. However, the Japanese international’s effort was right towards the centre of goal and Vanhaevermaet denied her with a strong header. It was a welcome chance for the Belgian to redeem herself for her error on the first goal.
Embed from Getty ImagesEverton didn’t give up their hopes of an equaliser until the death, with Tullis-Joyce forced into a lightning-fast dive to keep out a left-footed volley from Sarri. Both keepers had the chance to flex their muscles in the closing minutes: Brosnan superbly denied Malard with an instinctive save after the Frenchwoman had burned her way through the Everton half.
The game ended as it had been since the fourth minute, as Skinner’s side somehow hung onto their narrow lead for nearly a full 90 minutes of play. An equaliser would have felt fair to most Toffees fans on the balance of play – but it wasn’t to be. Everton’s point-less start to the season continues, but United’s performance was far from convincing.
The lineups
EVE: Brosnan, Vanhaevermaet, Finnigan (c), Stenevik, S.Holmgaard, Hope, Gabarro, Wheeler, Hayashi, Olesen, Snoejis.
MUN: Tullis-Joyce, Riviere, Le Tissier, Turner, Galton, Clinton, Janssen, Naalsund, Geyse, Terland, Toone.
