Everton were edged out 2-1 under the lights at Goodison Park by London City Lionesses in the WSL, with an Isobel Goodwin brace proving decisive.
In what was the newly promoted side’s first top-flight victory, Goodwin struck in both halves to secure all three points, despite a late penalty from Yuka Momiki giving the hosts a surge of momentum in the closing stages.
The Blues started brightly, with Toni Payne causing problems down the right wing and delivering a series of dangerous balls towards Kelly Gago in the area.
At the other end, Clare Wheeler produced a crucial defensive block to deny the visitors after a threatening delivery from a corner just beyond the ten-minute mark.
But from the resulting second corner in quick succession, the Lionesses broke the deadlock as Goodwin lashed a clinical strike into the top of the net.
Despite the early setback, Everton responded well with further glimpses of the growing connection between Payne and Gago.
The French international came close in the 43rd minute after evading her marker to fire from inside the area, but the tight angle made it difficult, and Elena Lete was alert to parry the effort away.
The goalkeeper was called into action again just minutes later when a Payne inswinger looked to be heading goalwards, but Lete reacted sharply to keep it out.
From the restart, the London side settled into the action quicker with Lotta Lindstrom’s curling effort narrowly wide of the left post.
On 58 minutes, Goodwin doubled the advantage, reacting smartly to a Nikita Parris cross and finishing from close range.
Everton pulled one back on 70 minutes when Yuka Momiki was brought down in the box as she looked to connect with Honoka Hayashi’s pass. The Japanese international stepped up and dispatched the penalty clinically into the bottom-right corner.
The Blues pushed for a late equaliser, with Rosa Van Gool’s stoppage-time header comfortably saved after a fine cross from Martina Fernández, but the Lionesses held on to claim a historic win.
Everton return to action in midweek with their opening fixture of the Women’s League Cup against Manchester City.
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