Everton Women 1-3 Arsenal: WSL Match Report and Reaction

Yesterday at 02:09 AM

Sorensen: 'They won fair and square.'

Brian Sorensen felt his side lost to the best team in the league as Everton Women went down to Arsenal in a competitive WSL fixture at a sold-out Walton Hall Park.

Toni Payne's first Everton goal cancelled out Alessia Russo's opener, only for an unfortunate Martina Fernandez own goal and a second for Russo in stoppage time ensuring that it would be Renee Slegers' side who would return to London with all three points.

Sorensen made one change from the team that secured a 2-0 victory against Aston Villa last time out, with Justine Vanhaevermaet replacing Heather Payne in the middle of the park.

But the Blues came up against an Arsenal machine in fine form, something the Toffees coach was open and honest about.

"I said it to the girls yesterday; when they [Arsenal] get it right, they are the best team in the league in terms of how they press, out of possession, they are really hard to play against," he said.

"They also moved the ball about well today, they had a good pitch to play on, and defensively we were probably not at our best compared to how we have been. And in some of the transitional moments [of the game] we never really got a foothold.

"A tough night, but we have a lot of new players, many of them are playing Arsenal for the first time, so they have to learn to get used to the tempo and physicality.

"They won fair and square today and we have to look forward, we still have so much to improve. I'm gutted we didn't get anything but we made a game out of it, at least until the last 15 minutes."

Everton started brightly and had the first meaningful attempt of the evening through Honoka Hayashi.

The Japan international forced Manuela Zinsberger into a strong save following a clever interchange between her, Sara Holmgaard, and Kelly Gago, resulting in the midfielder directing a half-volley from the edge of the box that was well palmed away by the Gunners' stopper.

But it would be the in-form Russo who open the scoring with her 17th goal of the season on 24 minutes when she converted Kim Little's low cross past Courtney Brosnan.

The hosts didn't feel sorry for themselves, though, and levelled proceedings 12 minutes later. Payne applied the finish, but the Nigeria star owes much of her first goal through the persistence of Katja Snoeijs.

Picking the pocket of Lia Walti through her relentless pressing, the Netherlands international found Kelly Gago advancing down the right. Pulling it back to the advancing forward, Snoeijs first-time shot fell into the path of Payne, who smashed the ball past Zinsberger from close range.

Arsenal began the second 45 strongly but was met with the impressive Brosnan, who continued to show why she is many people's choice for Everton's Player of the Season.

Chloe Kelly's curling drive took a wicked deflection off Snoeijs, but the keeper's reflexes were as sharp as ever to make the save as the ball looked destined for the net.

Clare Wheeler's return to action following injury drew a big cheer from the Everton faithful when she replaced Snoeijs on 62 minutes, but the fans joy would be short-lived as Arsenal regained the lead 60 seconds later.

Sub Caitlin Foord's dangerous cross struck Fernandez at the back post which saw the ball fortuitously land in the net, much to the dismay of the Toffees.

With the game stretched, Brosnan had to be alert to keep her side in proceedinsg with ten minutes remaining, denying Stina Blackstenius a goal with a smart stop.

But the Republic of Ireland star was beaten by Russo as the game moved into to stoppage time. The England star latched onto a through ball before rounding the outrushed keeper to tap into the empty net.

Bottom-placed Crystal Palace are next up for the Blues. The Eagles travel to Walton Hall Park on Saturday 22 March.

Kick-off for the WSL fixture is at 2pm (GMT).