A disappointed Brian Sorensen said his Everton Women side have to take their chances and learn after the Blues had to settle for a point despite a much improved performance away at Leicester City.
Ornella
Vignola’s fourth goal of the season had given the Toffees the lead in a game the visitors had controlled, only for Noémie Mouchon to level with nine minutes and snatch a point for the Foxes.
The draw ended a run of three straight league defeats for Everton, but Sorensen was in no mood for celebration and urged his players to learn from today.
“We have to take our chances,” he said “It is a bit disappointing.
“We have to keep working and take this one and learn from it.”
Following the failed formation experiment of last week’s game against Brighton & Hove Albion, the Toffees seemed to look more comfortable with a back three of Elise Stenevik, Martina Fernandez and Karen Holmgaard, who made only her second start of the season, operating in front of Emily Ramsey in between the sticks.
Hikaru Kitagawa made her Everton debut since her summer move from BK Häcken, displacing Maz Pacheco as a wing-back, with Katie Robinson occupying the right side.
Captain Clare Wheeler was restored to midfield alongside Ruby Mace, with a front three of Yuka Momiki, Vignola and Honoka Hayashi leading the line.
A tight opening 20 minutes came to life when Wheeler – looking the part in the centre of midfield – evaded her marker and finding the advancing Robinson, who looked to square it to Vignola who was denied by a brilliant interception from Olivia McLoughlin.
The Spaniard then turned provider minutes later but Kitagawa could only head wide. Vignola did well to loft a ball to the back post, and the Japan international connected well only to see the ball go agonisingly beyond the post and out for a goal-kick.
Janina Leitzig – so often Everton’s nemesis – continued her strong form against the Blues to deny Robinson on the stroke of half-time. The winger latched on to Holmgaard’s inviting through ball and charged at goal before looking to catch the keeper out with a quick finish, but was thwarted by the shot-stopper, who did well to narrow the angle and ensure the hosts got to the break level.
Leitzig could do nothing six minutes after the restart though, when Vignola finally broke the deadlock.
The forward controlled Kitagawa’s lofted through and weaved in between two Leicester defenders before firing home at the near-post, right in front of the delighted travelling fans.
Three minutes later and Kitagawa drew a hearty round of applause as she was replaced by Pacheco, who very nearly made an instant impact when she held off Janice Cayman and tried her luck from a tight angle to force Leitzig to act and ensure the deficit remained at just one.
And the stopper’s efforts were rewarded when Mouchon beat Ramsey to equalise with nine minutes remaining.
The substitute picked the ball and charged at the Blues’ backline before letting fly from the edge of the area to ensure Leicester claimed an undeserved point at King Power Stadium.
Next up for Everton Women is a history-making fixture at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday, 12 October.
Manchester United will be the first ever WSL visitors to the stunning venue, which has a start time of 12pm BST (7am ET, 4am PT) and tickets are on sale now.
