Everton edged Nottingham Forest on penalties at Goodison Park to secure an extra point in the Women’s League cup after the tie ended 1-1 at full-time.
The contest ran the full distance after Aimee Jessica Claypole’s 56th minute penalty was cancelled out by Kelly Gago’s wonderful curling strike only three minutes later, taking the game to spot kicks to battle out for the bonus point.
Emily Ramsey turned up making two remarkable saves to allow Maz Pacheco to bury the winning strike, defeating the visitors 4-3.
The Blues started brightly with two chances in the opening five minutes falling to Gago and Elise Stenevik.
Honoka Hayashi delivered an enticing ball into the area which the French international pounced upon to force a save from Emily Jayne Batty, and Stenevik’s close range effort was blocked.
Katie Robinson came close to an opener 30 minutes later when Gago provided a threatening low ball for the loanee to take a hold off. However, her strike fell off target only finding the side netting.
The host’s maintained their pressure on Batty’s goal for the rest of the half, with a good chance falling to Gago in the box, but her shot blazed over the bar.
However, it was the visitors who took the lead in the 56th minute when Hikaru Kitagawa was deemed to have brought down Kirsty Smith inside the area. Claypole stepped up and make no mistake from the spot to give Forest an unlikely lead.
Everton responded well though, as Kelly Gago restored parity quickly with a clinical curling strike after profiting off a defensive lap and intercepting Ebba Hed’s sloppy back pass.
The Blues’ fought to claim all three points, with substitute Toni Payne demonstrating her attacking prowess down the right flank on multiple occasions and delivering threatening crosses, though no more goals were added, and the tie was taken to penalties to fight for the bonus point.
Ramsey denied Charlie Wellings and Chantelle Boyre-Hlorkah with Gago, Stenevik, Clare Wheeler and Pacheco all contributing to ensure the Toffees secured the extra point.
The Blues return to action after the international break where they will travel to Aston Villa in the WSL.
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