Everton had their second win this season taken away late in the day by a fiery Leicester City.
Ornella Vignola had given the Toffees the lead at the King Power Stadium, but a late Noémie Mouchon strike denied Everton of their first win since winning the Merseyside derby, keeping them level on points with their visitors.
As it happened
Everton’s start to the Women’s Super League has been far from ideal. Before their clash with Leicester, they’d won only one match after a hectic transfer window which saw them improve an already talented squad.
Before the match began, a minute’s silence was held for former Leicester City owner Milan Mandarić, who passed away on Saturday at the age of 87.
The first half started slowly, with both Everton and Leicester looking overly cautious in attack. The Foxes’ Hannah Cain and Emily van Egmond played their attack smartly, looking cohesive and creating several opportunities to drive the ball closer to Emily Ramsey’s goal. However, these attempts were unsuccessful, leaving Leicester appearing desperate in hopes to score in order to end their two match losing-streak.
In the 27th minute, Everton’s Hikaru Kitagawa narrowly missed the goal after heading a cross from Vignola just wide of the goal. However, their first major opportunity to take the leadcame at the finale of the first half. Katie Robinson took advantage of a gap on the right of Leicester City’s defence but glory was halted by Janina Leitzig’s save.
The second half looked to be Everton’s redemption. Vignola scored a spectacular goal in the 51st minute after being chased down by Asmita Ale and Chantelle Swaby before launching the ball into the back of the net.
Everton had the chance to further their lead and secure their second win in this year’s WSL after a foul from Ale gave them a free kick just outside the box. Vignola delivered the ball perfectly and it was found by Elise Stenevik, who headed the ball into the left of the outside netting.
After two substitutions had already been made, further changes came for Leicester City in the 80th minute in a last bid to equalise. Sam Tierney was replaced by Mouchon to strengthen their attack, and her first touch of the match came in the form of the equalising goal. She drove the ball down the centre of the pitch, chased by Ruby Mace all the way, before volleying the ball into the edge of the net. Everton’s devastation was clear; their defence looked panicked and dishevelled for the remaining 10 minutes.
Extra time brought a delay after a bad foul on Mace left her injured. However, Leicester City appeared hungry to secure a last minute goal. Shannon O’Brien launched the ball from the centre of the box and tapped the top post before the final whistle.
The result means both teams remain level on points, now with four apiece: Everton find themselves in ninth place, while Leicester City are in 10th.
Both sides will return to action in next weekend’s WSL fixtures, with Everton hosting Manchester United while Leicester travel to Aston Villa.
The lineups
LEI: Leitzig; Kees, Swaby, Thibaud; Cayman, Tierney, McLoughlin, Ale; Van Egmond; Cain, Rantala
EVE: Ramsey; Fernández, Holmgaard, Stenevik, Kitagawa; Mace, Wheeler; Robinson, Hayashi, Momiki; Vignola