Brian Sorensen believes Everton Women will ‘get there’ but admitted that Manchester United are not a side they should be measuring themselves against after the visitors scored four inside the last 30 minutes, cancelling out a defensively solid hour for the Blues.
Honoka Hayashi made history on 16 minutes when she gave the Toffees the lead to become the first female player to score a competitive goal at Hill Dickinson Stadium in front of a crowd of 18,154.
Sorensen’s side held the lead for over an hour
until Melvine Malard equalised for the visitors before an unfortunate Hikaru Kitagawa own goal gave Marc Skinner’s side the lead on 70 minutes.
With Everton forced to chase the game, second half sub and former Everton loanee Jess Park added a brace which ensured the Blues remain winless since the opening day of the season.
And a clearly frustrated Sorensen conceded the quality of the opposition is not where his team are at, yet.
“The girls did everything that they could, in the end, we just run out of legs,” he said.
“And the substitutes they bring on, are really high class. So that keeps the intensity, and maybe even adds to it, while we are tired from working so hard.
“I thought first half we did what we talked about and took our chance when we got it. Second half, I actually thought we started better than the first, maybe, but in key moments we let ourselves down, lost a couple of one-on-ones, and then they are through.
“We were unlucky with the own goal, it is a deflection, and that can happen.
“Then we tried to chase a bit, then we are open at the other end and Jess (Park) takes advantage of that.
“I’m not happy with the result but reflecting back on the day, it was a good day, seeing so many fans and it is nice to play in this amazing stadium.
“I’m gutted we couldn’t do more, but maybe that’s the reality of where we are at the moment. We have a very young team and we need to grow and learn.
“We have a lot of people who know this league and understand it but we also have a lot that need to learn to play together. It will take a bit of time but we will get there, the girls will get there. It’s just a case of keep working hard.
“We put on a good display for 60 minutes, but eventually the game ran away from us and United are a very good side, but not a side we should be measuring ourselves against as they have about triple the budget that we are using and that is the reality.
“There are teams around us that we are more alike, they are the games we are looking to, but it is about learning and growing and I know that we will get there.”
A bright start to the game saw a few chances for United but it was Everton – who were unchanged from the side that started against Leicester City – that were the first to draw first blood.
Yuka Momiki’s inviting free-kick caused panic in the Red Devils’ defence. with stopper Phallon Tullis-Joyce unconvincing with her clearance.
And Hayashi was the most alert, latching on to the loose ball to stab home and make history in front of the delighted crowd.
Skinner’s side pressed and had chances through Elisabeth Terland and Ella Toone, but Emily Ramsey remained largely untroubled as the half drew to a close with a crowd in full appreciation of Everton’s efforts.
The Blues looked comfortable as the second 45 began but the visitors levelled through the in-form Malard on 62 minutes. Hinata Miyazawa played the defence-splitting pass but the French forward was first thwarted by Ramsey, though the keeper could do nothing to deny the 25-year-old tapping in the rebound.
With United now in the ascendency, luck also seem to favour them when they took the lead eight minutes later. Kitagawa attempted to clear, but her efforts struck Malard before rebounding off the Japan star and into the net for what looked like an own goal, although the striker will be claiming it.
The sight of the returning Kelly Gago was a welcome one, as the forward returned to action from the bench, replacing Katie Robinson on 67 minutes. The French international was also joined by Toni Payne, with Momiki making way for the Nigerian.
But it was another sub who would settle matters inside the final ten minutes, as Park tried her luck from distance to make it three. The England star got a slice of luck courtesy of an Elise Stenevik deflection which wrong-footed the unlucky Ramsey and gave her side a two-goal cushion.
And with one minute of normal time remaining, Park added another when she fired home from the edge of the box to end a tough afternoon for Sorensen’s side.
Everton Women now have a break from the WSL, but are back in action at Goodison Park when the welcome Nottingham Forest in the League Cup on Sunday, 19 October at 2pm BST (9am ET, 6am PT).
Tickets for the fixture are available now.
