Everton suffered a 3-1 defeat against Arsenal at Goodison Park in the WSL, with a spirited performance ultimately going unrewarded.
The game was shaped by a dramatic five-minute spell early on, during which Katie McCabe opened the scoring inside 11 minutes with a powerful long-range strike. Honoka Hayashi responded almost instantly, however, restoring parity with a composed finish from the edge of the area, although Arsenal quickly regained the lead soon after.
Alessia Russo converted from close range to put the visitors back in front, before Olivia Smith wrapped up the points late on, firing home an impressive long-range volley.
Arsenal began the contest on the front foot, forcing Ruby Mace into early defensive work as she first blocked a dangerous whipped cross from Mariona Caldentey and then closed down Caitlin Foord on the edge of the box to prevent the winger from getting a shot away.
Mace continued to showcase her defensive prowess, clearing another delivery from Russo, but the ball only travelled as far as McCabe, whose thunderous strike found the bottom corner just after the ten-minute mark to break the deadlock.
Everton’s response was immediate, with Hayashi levelling the scores through a fierce effort from outside the area that beat Anneke Borbe at her far post, though the visitors restored their advantage just two minutes later. Russo reacted quickest after Courtney Brosnan’s initial save was adjudged to have crossed the line, finishing from close range to make it 2-1.
Brosnan was kept busy midway through the first half and produced a series of important interventions, confidently claiming from a corner before making a superb point-blank save to deny Russo and ensure Everton remained within reach at the interval.
As half-time approached, the Blues threatened to equalise when Payne surged down the right after being released by Vignola, her low cross flashing across the face of goal but narrowly evading Gago inside the six-yard box.
Arsenal looked to assert control early in the second period and almost extended their lead when McCabe sent a teasing ball across the six-yard area, although Brosnan reacted sharply to smother the danger before Russo could make contact.
Despite Everton’s persistence, Arsenal’s pressure eventually told late on, with Smith adding a third in the 87th minute by unleashing a clinical volley from 25 yards to put the result beyond doubt.
Payne attempted to spark a late attacking response by driving down the right flank, but she was well marshalled by Kyra Cooney-Cross, who prevented the delivery as Everton were unable to find a breakthrough before the final whistle.
The Toffees will now turn their attention to another demanding challenge after the turn of the year, travelling to face Manchester City at the Joie Stadium.
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