Everton suffered late heartbreak as their WSL winning run came to an end with a narrow 2-1 defeat against Manchester United.
The hosts struck first through Elisabeth Terland in the 38th minute and looked set to see out the contest, only for a dramatic finale to turn the game on its head.
Imna Gabbaro thought she had managed to rescue a point for the Blues in the 90th minute, but it wasn’t to be, as Melvine Malard nodded her side back in additional time.
United began on the front foot, forcing Courtney Brosnan into early action as she reacted sharply to dive low and deny Malard from the edge of the area.
Their early pressure almost paid off inside 15 minutes when Terland met a delivery from Maya Le Tissier, but her header drifted narrowly over the crossbar.
Everton held firm for much of the first half but were eventually undone before the interval. Jess Park delivered a dangerous ball into the box, and although Ruby Mace produced an excellent block to deny Terland’s initial effort, the Norwegian fell lucky, riffling the rebound beyond Brosnan.
The second half began in a cagey rhythm, with clear-cut chances at a premium. United fashioned the first opening after the restart, as Lea Schüller drove an effort goalwards, but Brosnan was equal to it.
Everton’s best chance arrived in the 76th minute when Maz Pacheco stretched a floating cross towards the goal, allowing Zara Kramzar to rise highest in the box. However, she could not keep her header down as it looped over the bar.
The visitors’ persistence was rewarded in the 90th minute. Imna Gabbaro met a lofted delivery across goal, timing her run perfectly to nod past Phallon Tullis-Joyce and seemingly rescue a point for Everton.
But there was to be one final twist. Deep into stoppage time, Malard rose highest from a corner to head home from close range, snatching victory for United with the last action of the game.
Despite the defeat, Everton put up a good fight against high flying opposition, offering a performance to build on ready for the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park on Saturday.
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