Everton sink Liverpool thanks to penalty awarded for foul outside box

Everton were awarded a penalty against Liverpool despite the foul on Honoka Hayashi clearly taking place outside the box. Photograph: Sky Sports

An exasperated Matt Beard claimed the match officials had cost his Liverpool team the Merseyside derby, after a controversial penalty enabled Everton to claim their first win of the Women’s Super League season and move off the bottom of the table.

Beard and his players could scarcely believe their eyes when the hosts were awarded a spot-kick for a foul on the Japan midfielder Honoka Hayashi that replays showed had taken place outside the box. Katja Snoeijs converted the penalty in the 41st minute.