Courtney Brosnan spoke of her immense pride as Honoka Hayashi’s first-half goal ended Chelsea’s incredible 31-game unbeaten league run.
The Everton Women stopper and captain was part of an immense effort that condemned Sonia Bompastor’s team to a feeling they have not experienced for 585 days while earning a first ever victory for Brian Sorensen against the defending league champions.
Soaking up the inevitable pressure, the visitors countered and Hayashi finished a flowing move when she met Toni Payne’s
cross on 12 minutes, as the majority of the Kingsmeadow crowd looked on in shocked silence.
With an unchanged starting XI from the team that won away at Newcastle, the Toffees survived an early scare as Catarina Macario saw her effort strike the woodwork after Brosnan got a hand to her low-driven shot from the edge of the area.
But it was Everton who opened the scoring with their first effort of the game.
Excellent play from Yuka Momiki sent Payne clear to play in a low cross that evaded Kelly Gago’s near-post run, but fell kindly for Hayashi, who made no mistake as she calmly slotted past Livia Peng to send the travelling Blues into raptures.
The hosts searched for an equaliser but found Brosnan in stubborn form, as Alyssa Thompson found out on 32 minutes.
The American charged at the Toffees rearguard and unleashed an effort that saw the Republic of Ireland international produce a sublime save to push the winger’s goalbound effort around the post.
Sorensen will have been glad to get his side in at the break, not least to give his voice a rest following a very animated display on the touchline during the first 45.
Into the second half and the Blues readied themselves for a Chelsea onslaught but were equal to it, with Martina Fernandez and Ruby Mace looking particularly solid in the middle of defence.
Sorensen utilised his bench, with Karen Holmgaard, Katja Snoeijs, Katie Robinson, and Rosa van Gool all introduced as the Toffees continued to put their bodies on the line.
Brosnan was called into action on a number of occasions, but dealt with everything that was directed at her as Chelsea’s frustrations grew while the Everton head coach appeared to kick every ball from his technical area.
With time running out for the hosts to preserve their unbeaten record, substitute Sam Kerr thought she had levelled only for Fernandez to produce an incredible block to keep her team in front.
And with four of the five added minutes already played, Brosnan further justified her Player of the Match award with another fantastic stop, this time denying Sandy Baltimore by pushing her free-kick onto the upright.
After what felt like an eternity of endless crosses as time went beyond the allotted quintet of minutes, the referee blew her whistle as the celebrations by the jubilant Everton fans, staff, and players, began.
Next up for Chelsea’s conquerors is the visit of Arsenal to Goodison Park on Saturday, 13 December, at 12pm GMT (7am ET, 4am PT), as Everton Women go in search of the first home win in the WSL this season.
Tickets for the fixture are available here.
