Everton returned to winning ways in the league with a 1-0 victory over reigning champions Chelsea at Kingsmeadow, ending Chelsea’s 34-match unbeaten run in the WSL.
Honoka Hayashi opened the scoring for the Blues in the 11th minute with a neat close-range finish at the near post. Everton then held firm for the remainder of the match, showing resilient defending and exceptional effort to thwart Chelsea’s attacks, securing all three points.
The hosts set the tempo early into the afternoon, bringing Courtney Brosnan into action immediately as she impressively pushed Catarina Macario’s low strike onto the right-hand post.
But the Toffees matched their intensity, surging forward on the counterattack. Yuka Momiki picked out Toni Payne on the right wing, who burst down the flank and delivered a teasing cross into the box finding Hayashi, who clinically slotted the ball past Livia Peng just after the 10-minute mark.
Chelsea almost levelled the scores midway through the first half as Alesia Thompson struck powerfully at the near post, but Brosnan produced an outstanding save to parry the ball away before Hayashi cleared the danger fully.
Sandy Baltimore then tried her luck from outside the box on the right wing, but her effort drifted just wide of the far post.
Weathering this sustained pressure, Ruby Mace did magnificently to execute a fierce sliding tackle, diverting the ball behind for a corner, before Brosnan followed up with a commanding punch clear to preserve the advantage into the break.
The second period called for even more resilient defending from the Blues. The first chance of the half fell to the hosts, with Ellie Carpenter’s effort rising over the crossbar, before Sam Kerr’s attempt moments later fell completely off target.
Momiki has a chance to extend the lead from the edge of the box after Payne teed her up, but her looping effort was comfortably claimed by Peng.
Chelsea’s closest chance of the evening came when Baltimore hung a threatening delivery into the box from a corner, and the ball awkwardly bounced off bodies before striking the post, with Everton eventually scrambling it clear.
With ten minutes left, the whole team came together defensively to protect their lead as another Baltimore corner was swung towards the back post, but Katja Snoeijs was on hand to clear an effort off the line.
Fernandez then matched her heroics with a vital sliding goal line clearance to prevent Kerr’s close-range effort from creeping in.
Additional time felt endless for the visitors, and the last chance of the evening fell to Baltimore from a free kick. Her effort cannoned off the crossbar before the final whistle rang around Kingsmeadow, confirming that Everton had secured all three points and ended Chelsea’s remarkable 585-day unbeaten run in the WSL.
Everton will now look to replicate this performance and claim their first win at home of the campaign as they turn their attention to Arsenal at Goodison Park on Saturday.
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