Rosa van Gool feels that there is nothing wrong with the mentality of Everton Women after Brian Sorensen’s side suffered a 3-1 defeat to Manchester City in their opening Group A game in the Subway League Cup.
Jade Rose’ opening goal inside 21 minutes was followed up by second-half strikes from Yui Hasegawa and Vivianne Miedema as the hosts proved far more clinical with their finishes.
Hikaru Kitagawa marked her first time in the matchday squad with a fine strike but it proved to only be consolation
as a spirited performance ended in defeat for the Toffees.
But van Gool was not prepared to wallow and is already looking forward to Sunday’s clash with Brighton knowing full well what the team need to work on.
“I think, especially second half we played well but in the first half I didn’t think we started well enough. Second half we got lots of opportunities, first half as well,” she said.
“We just need to score!
“Hikaru scored a fantastic goal to get us back in the game, but I think we need to ask more from ourselves from the beginning [of the game] and that is what needs to be better.
“Manchester City are a good team, so you maybe don’t get a lot of opportunities, so when you do you need to finish them right.
“There were lots of positive things that we can take forward and Sunday is a massive game for us now.
“It’s not about the mentality, we give are all when we are on the pitch. I feel that it is more about the calmness on the ball and the bravery we play with.
“I think those two are things that we need to take and work on.”
With Emily Ramsey trusted in between the sticks, Martina Fernandez was named captain for the first time in her Everton career, and lined up in a back four that included Elise Stenevik, who was making her first start of the season.
Katie Robinson started the tie further forward as Yuka Momiki operated centrally in Sorensen’s re-jigged XI.
A cagey opening 20 saw little created, until Khadjia Shaw forced a brilliant save by Ramsey. The Jamaican met Hasegawa’s low-cross from the left, but the stopper stood her ground well to keep the forward out.
But a minute later City went ahead through Rose; Leila Ouahabi delivered the corner and the centre back took the ball down before eventually bundling home.
The Blues responded well and Rose was called upon defensively as the visitors mounted their offence. a 30-yard stirk from van Gool was well caught by Eartha Cumings, before Honoka Hayashi saw an effort whisk just over the crossbar after the Ornella Vignola broke down the right for a second time in quick succession.
At the other end, former Toffee Grace Clinton rattled the woodwork from 10-yards out, but the last chance of the half went Everton’s way.
Vignola brushed aside the challenge of Ouahabi and brilliantly picked out Robinson from the byline, who rifled a powerful strike agonisingly over the frame of the goal.
Football took a back seat on 47 minutes as the whole stadium rose to pay respect to the late Matt Beard, whose influence on the women’s game will never be forgotten.
Hasegawa doubled the Citizens’ lead on 53 minutes. The hosts intercepted a loose ball and the Japan international made no mistake from close range.
Toni Payne, Karen Holmgaard, Clare Wheeler and Ruby Mace replaced Vignola, Stenevik, Robinson and Ladd as Sorensen endeavoured to find a way back into the game.
But it was City who scored next; Miedema making it three with 13 minutes remaining after heading home Iman Beney’s cross at the back-post.
Kitagawa came off the bench four minutes later to replace Maz Pacheco and make her debut for the club, and took just five minutes to make her mark with an impressive strike
The Japanese star picked her spot before curling a delightful finish in to the top right corner with her weak foot.
Everton Women now turn attention to Sunday’s trip to Brighton & Hove Albion.
Kick-off for the WSL fixture on the south coast is at 12pm BST (7am ET, 4am PT).
