Everton left it late to secure their first win at Goodison Park this season, edging Aston Villa 2-1 in the WSL.
Ebony Salmon opened the scoring just before the twenty-minute mark, but Everton reacted well with Martina Fernandez nodding home after meeting Ruby Mace’s pinpoint corner in the 32nd minute – her first goal for the club.
The young Spaniard proved decisive late on, adding to her tally in the 89th minute to seal all three points for Brian Sorensen’s side.
Everton started on the front foot, with Yuka Momiki testing Sabrina D’Angelo early on, though her strike from the centre of the area was comfortably claimed by the Villa keeper.
But it was the visitors who found the breakthrough in the 17th minute after Salmon intercepted an uncharacteristically loose pass from Mace in the final third. The forward took the ball in her stride before unleashing a thunderous strike beyond Courtney Brosnan.
The Blues looked to respond immediately as Ornella Vignola slipped a clever pass through to Momiki inside the area, but her effort was deflected behind for a corner.
Everton’s progressive approach was rewarded on the half-hour mark when Mace delivered an inch-perfect corner to the far post, where Fernandez rose highest to power a header into the net and level the score.
Everton’s progressive approach was rewarded on the half-hour mark when Fernandez levelled the score, rising highest to power a header into the net after Mace’s fine corner delivery.
Villa threatened against the run of play soon after, as Brosnan parried Georgia Mullett’s effort into danger, but the forward’s follow-up sailed over the crossbar.
Everton carried their positive energy through to the end of the first half with multiple chances to take the lead. The hosts were denied a penalty when Oceane Deslandes pulled down Clare Wheeler following Momki’s dangerous cross into the box. Moments later, Vignola agonisingly struck the post following a venomous strike from the edge of the box.
The tempo dipped slightly after the break, with neither team creating clear-cut chances in the opening stages of the second half.
Looking to re-spark the momentum, Brian Sorensen made a 76th-minute substitution, bringing Aurora Galli and Maz Pacheco on for Rosa van Gool and Inma Gabarro.
Everton continued to push, and Hikaru Kitagawa came close to putting the Blues ahead with ten minutes remaining, firing narrowly wide from distance.
As the game drew to a close, Fernandez found herself once more in space at the far post to meet another enticing Mace delivery. She nodded home her second goal of the afternoon, sending Goodison Park into jubilant celebration.
The Toffees held firm in the closing moments to secure their first home victory of the season.
Everton currently sit in 9th place, with their next test on Sunday against London City Lionesses on the road.
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