Maz Pacheco says Everton Women are taking every game as it comes but feels that wins are important for confidence however they come, after the Blues needed a penalty shootout to overcome WSL 2 side Nottingham
Forest at Goodison Park in their second Group A game of the Subway League Cup.
Emily Ramsey was the hero with two saves in the shootout, after Aimee Jessica Claypole opened the scoring for the visitors from the spot on 56 minutes in normal time, only for Kelly Gago to level with her first of the season three minutes later.
The result ends a run of six games without victory for Brian Sorensen’s side, who will welcome an international break after a difficult start that promised so much after the Toffees’ opening day victory over Liverpool at Anfield.
Full-back Pacheco, who will face former club Aston Villa should she be selected for Everton in their first game after the international break, has spoken of her desire to set an example to the younger players, and is hoping that confidence can improve when they return to domestic action.
“I think for me, coming here, is a pivotal point in my career,” she said.
“I want to be a leader, a senior player; we have a lot of young girls here, and that is something that I’m not used to, but it was me at one point.
“I think coming here, I knew the type of player I wanted to be, the type of person I wanted to be for the girls.
“Stepping into that leader role, stepping into that senior role, it has definitely switched my mindset.
“On or off the pitch, I have a job to do.
“I think, at the minute, we’ll take every game as it comes. Whether it’s a cup game, a penalty shootout, we need to get those wins to get that confidence.
“It is international break now, so it’s [a case of] can we get that confidence again and go into Villa?”
Sorensen went with a strong line-up as he looked for a first win on home soil, although top scorer Ornella Vignola dropped to the bench as Gago spearheaded a front three flanked by Katie Robinson and Yuka Momiki.
And it was the Toffees who unsurprisingly forced the issue against Carly Davies’ team, with Gago looking the biggest threat with two chances of her own while also turning provider for Robinson, who could only fire into the side netting, as the first half ended goalless.
A familiar story the Goodison faithful know all too well repeated itself 11 minutes after the restart as Forest took the lead through Claypole.
Hikaru Kitagawa was adjudged to have upended Kirsty Smith inside the area, and the former Chelsea forward made no mistake from 12 yards.
The lead didn’t last long though, as Gago restored parity with a fine finish.
Ebba Hed’s wayward back-pass was intercepted by the 26-year-old, who showed her goalscoring prowess to curl her effort past the outrushed Emily Batty in front of the Gwladys.
Everton continued to press, but even the introductions of both Vignola and Toni Payne couldn’t break down the visitors, who saw the game out to penalties.
Up stepped Ramsey to be the hero on her Goodison debut; the stopper keeping out both Charlie Wellings and former Blue Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah, as skipper Clare Wheeler, Gago, Elise Stenevik and Pacheco made no mistake from the spot.
The win sees the Blues claim their first League Cup points of the season following defeat at Manchester City in September.
Newcastle United await in the final game of Group A on Sunday, 23 November, with the Toffees having little chance of qualification in a competition that Brian Sorensen has never been able to guide his team to the latter stages of.
But with disgruntled fans and a team seemingly lacking ideas, every game for the Dane has to be one that not only provides a chance for points, but also an opportunity to ignite a spark that looks to have faded following the opening day euphoria.
Everton women are next in action in the WSL on Sunday, 2 November, when they travel to Villa Park.
Kick-off in the Midlands will be at 2pm GMT (9am ET 6am PT).
