Everton Women’s Goodison Park era began in front of a record-breaking 6,473 supporters, as Brian Sørensen’s side fell to a 2-0 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur in the WSL.
The visitors struck in each half through Olga Ahtinen and Cathinka Tandberg, capitalising on defensive lapses to claim all three points.
Despite the score line, the historic afternoon carried plenty of positives, with the huge home backing underlining the exciting platform The Grand Old Lady now provides for the Blues future.
In wet and blustery conditions, Spurs settled quicker, forcing Courtney Brosnan into action inside 11 minutes. Drew Spence fired a shot from point-blank range before the Irish International read the danger superbly, parrying onto the post.
With the Blues still struggling to find their footing, the London side’s pressure paid off just before the half-hour mark. A sweeping team move carved through the defence and ended with Ahtinen slotting low into the bottom left corner.
Everton had a promising chance to get back into the game on the stroke of half-time when Katie Robinson slipped a clever pass to Rosa Van Gool, who cut the ball back into a sea of blue shirts. After a blocked shot from Ornella Vignola, Maz Pacheco was next in line, but her effort took a deflection and was comfortably collected by Lize Kop.
Shortly after the restart, Tandberg doubled Tottenham’s advantage in stunning fashion, spotting Brosnan off her line and striking from 40 yards.
The Toffees continued to search for a response, with substitute Kelly Gago battling superbly down the left before finding Yuka Momiki on the edge of the box, only for Clare Hunt to block her effort.
Ruby Mace was also denied by Kop from distance, while Van Gool’s strike rose just over the bar.
With less than ten minutes remaining, Brosnan produced another fine stop to prevent Spence adding a third for the visitors.
Everton now look forward to another historic occasion on Friday night, when London City Lionesses visit Goodison for the team’s first WSL fixture under the lights at their new home.
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