A dramatic winner deep into added time helped Everton secure a 1-0 win over Leicester City at Walton Hall Park on Thursday evening in the Women's Super League.
A free-kick from substitute Hanna Bennison was looped towards the back post with the hosts knocking on the door to break the deadlock. In the Foxes' goal, Kirsty Levell's attempt to punch the ball away went straight into the back of the net instead, sparking jubilant scenes among the sold-out home crowd.
Brian Sorensen's team came into their first home match of the season on a high following a comprehensive Merseyside Derby victory at Anfield on Sunday. Meanwhile, Lydia Bedford's squad were looking for their first point of the season after defeats to Tottenham and Aston Villa to begin the campaign.
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The first 45 minutes passed without much fanfare, with both sides feeling their way into the game and struggling to come out on top in what was a scrappy affair.
Everton started the match dominating possession but struggled to get Jess Park, one of their standout players from their win at Anfield last weekend, into the game too much. Leicester, meanwhile, were mainly limited to long range efforts which were dealt with easily by Emily Ramsey.
The best opportunities came with the hosts getting Nathalie Bjorn in possession and playing through-balls in behind, with one in particular finding Izzy Christiansen before her cross was placed just too far in front of Katja Snoeijs.
The second period began with the visitors on top and they had the best opportunity of the match so far within the opening ten minutes, with Jemma Purfield forcing Ramsey into a good save with a left-footed free kick.
After the hour mark substitute Karen Holmgaard, who had replaced Aurora Galli just moments previously, drove through the centre of the pitch for the Blues and forced a good save from Levell as the hosts attempted to edge ahead.
A raft of substitutions seemed to have woke Everton up as Bennison cut inside from the left and sent a long-range right-footed effort over the bar, before fellow substitute Gio also did well to work an opening down the right which was smothered by Levell.
However, the keeper was left disappointed by the end of the match as she couldn't prevent the hosts securing a very late win.
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