Yuka Momiki’s sublime free kick and a quickfire double from Katja Snoeijs and Toni Payne gave Everton Women victory away at Newcastle but it was not enough to prevent the Toffees exiting the competition at the group stage.
The hosts did pull one back through Beth Lumsden with 11 minutes remaining but it was merely a consolation goal as the Magpies concluded their League Cup campaign bottom of Group A and without a win.
Brian Sorensen will be left sweating on the fitness of Netherlands striker Snoeijs
though, after the striker was forced to leave the field after Aoife Mannion produced an ugly challenge off the ball that was missed by the match officials.
Courtney Brosnan made her first start since September, and was behind a back four of Hikaru Kitagawa, Martina Fernandez, Ruby Mace and Rion Ishikawa.
Clare Wheeler and Honoka Hayashi appeared to be operating deep in midfield, which saw Momiki assume the No.10 role behind a front-three of Payne, Ornella Vigola and Player of the Month nominee, Kelly Gago.
Sorensen had rolled the dice with a strong side, who produced a ruthless display, scoring three of their four shots on target.
And it was the visitors who settled the quicker, with Momiki producing a cross that almost saw Jemma Purfield turn the ball into her own on 15 minutes.
Payne then warmed the gloves of Claudia Moan with a 25-yard volley just before the half-hour mark, but the Magpies’ keeper could do little about what was to come a few minutes later.
Wheeler won a free kick 20 yards from goal, and Momiki’s curling effort gave the stopper no chance as the Blues took the lead.
Everton comfortably saw out the remainder of the half as Sorensen made a change at the interval with the introduction of Snoeijs for Gago in what looked more like a precautionary change rather than a tactical one.
The visitors kept up their momentum and went close through Vignola following good work from Hayashi, while Toni Payne must have thought she was destined to never score when Snoeijs somehow kept the ball in play with a looping header which allowed the Nigerian forward to steer it goalwards.
But Moan was on hand to produce a save that dumbfounded everyone in Gateshead International Stadium to keep her side in the contest.
But the former Sunderland could not prevent a hectic few minutes that saw Everton effectively end the game as a contest with goals from Snoeijs and Payne.
First it was the Toffees’ No. 9 who laid one on for the Dutch star, before scorer and provider swapped roles two minutes later to give the visitors a three-goal cushion.
With victory in the bag Sorensen made a trio of changes, including a first minutes for young defender Kenzie Weir, who will be keen to stake a claim for a spot in the Blues’ rearguard.
Newcastle pulled one back 11 minutes from time; Lumsden forcing home Jordan Nobbs’ in-swinging corner, before Mannion allowed her frustrations to get the better of her by lashing out at Snoeijs with a challenge that was worthy of a dismissal, with Ellie Jones taking to the field as her teammate was unable to continue.
And the 18-year-old – claiming her first senior minutes of the season – helped her team see out the remainder of the game to claim victory as Everton ended November with a win.
Sorensen’s side resume on Sunday 7 December when they travel to the capital to face Chelsea in the WSL
Kick-off at Kingsmeadow is at 2.30pm GMT (9.30am PT, 6.30am PT).
