Liverpool FC Women 1, Crystal Palace 1: Reds Frustrated In Disappointing Home Draw

Yesterday at 11:02 AM

Former Liverpool striker Katie Stengel gave Crystal Palace the lead before Cornelia Kapocs leveled. Olivia Smith hit the post late as the Reds looked for a lead, but the home side were unable to find a way through.

Liverpool 1 - 1 Crystal Palace

Liverpool: Kapocs 37'

Crystal Palace: Stengel 14'

Pre-Match

The Liverpool FC Women look to get back in the win column as they take on Crystal Palace side intent on sticking around in the WSL after being promoted last season. The Reds have fared will in the first half of matches, taking a lead in each of the four league games they have played. Liverpool have won only one of those, however, most recently dropping points in a loss to Manchester City at Anfield last weekend.

Matt Beard returns from illness to lead his squad from the sideline after missing out last week. The biggest lineup news is that imposing central striker Sophie Roman Haug is unavailable due to an ankle knock. Mia Enderby is given a starting role in her stead, though it will likely be Cornelia Kapocs who plays through the middle.

Both Grace Fisk and Ceri Holland are deemed fit enough for the bench after injuries. Teagan Micah is still not able to return, again leaving the Reds with no backup keeper on the bench.

First Half

In an interesting wrinkle, Taylor Hinds is starting the match as the right wing back with Lucy Parry on the left. Typically they are reversed. Mia Enderby looks to be playing down the middle of the attack, with Cornelia Kapocs on the left and Olivia Smith on the right. Expect the front three to be fluid in their positioning, however.

Crystal Palace earn the first corner of the game off of what looked to be a clear goal kick. The Eagles take the ball short and loft a cross into the box for former Liverpool player Katie Stengel, but the Reds clear their lines.

Parry and Hinds have now swapped back to their regular sides. Parry plays a simple ball to Olivia Smith, and the young Canadian surges forward into the Crystal Palace half in her first involvement. Her pass is cut out, but it's a glimpse of the threat she possesses on the ball.

Olivia Smith gets the ball deep into the attacking third on the right side. She beats the first defender on the dribble and plays a ball into the feet of Mia Enderby in the middle. The young Englishwoman does well to turn her defender but her shot lacks the power to trouble the goalkeeper.

The Reds attack down the left now with Cornelia Kapocs getting to the end of a through ball. She looks to put a ball across the face of goal but her cross is deflected out for a corner. Gemma Bonner goes to ground as the set piece comes in, but the referee deems it not a foul and the ball is cleared.

Goal Crystal Palace. The Liverpool defense in absolute shambles. missing several chances to clear their lines. The ball ping pongs around in the box before it falls to Katie Stengel just inside the six yard box, and the former Liverpool striker slots the ball past Rachael Laws to give the visitors the early lead.

Liverpool with quite a few unforced errors trying to play the ball out of the defensive half, gifting Crystal Palace possession and the ability to mount quick attacks on the Liverpool goal. It's a combination of players not being on the same page coupled with some just really poor touches and passes.

Mia Enderby does well to earn a free kick deep down right wing. Marie Höbinger drives the free kick into the box, but it just misses the head of Jasmine Matthews and goes all the way across and out for a goal kick.

Liverpool finally get something going in the attack, starting with Olivia Smith finding Mia Enderby before a return ball is played to her in the box. Smith gets a ball across the face of goal for Cornelia Kapocs, but the goalkeeper just gets a foot to the ball to flick it past the Swedish attacker. Kapocs, meanwhile, is taken out from behind as the ball goes past her, but the referee decides not to call for a foul. The ball finds its way to Taylor Hinds, who lofts a shot towards the far post, but it is caught by the goalkeeper.

GOAL LIVERPOOL!!! Mia Enderby is sent through behind the defense at the midfield stripe after the Reds defend a corner. She flies forward with the ball, but her shot is saved by the goalkeeper at the top of the box. The ball comes to Olivia Smith who has her shot blocked. The ball comes back into the box a few moments later and Cornelia Kapocs jumps forward to block a defenders clearance. The Swedish striker gathers the ball and drives the ball to the far post to tie the match 1-1!

Liverpool are still lumping crosses into the box like Sophie Roman Haug is there to win them. She isn't and Liverpool are not winning the aerial challenges.

The referee blows for half time with the match tied 1-1. Liverpool are honestly lucky to be even, with Crystal Palace having several big chances in the opening stanza as the Reds have struggled to find their marks.

Second Half

Matt Beard makes a triple change to start the second half. Ceri Holland, Leanne Kiernan, and Jenna Clark come on. Mia Enderby, Cornelia Kapocs, and Taylor Hinds all come off. Looks like a switch back to a 3-5-2 to try and control the midfield more. Jasmine Matthews will kick outside to left wing back.

Leanne Kiernan immediately looks to make an impact, doing well to keep a ball down the line in play before getting to the end line and knocking the ball off a defender for a corner. Somehow it is given as a goal kick though?

Ceri Holland now looking to make her mark quickly after entering. She gets the ball far up the left wing and cuts it back past a defender before lofting a cross into the box. Shea Yanez is able to catch the cross before it could find a Liverpool attacker.

Liverpool playing much more on the front foot to start this half. Leanne Kiernan tries to charge down a long ball into the box and almost nips the ball from the goalkeeper's foot.

Olivia Smith is fouled again, but it is not called. She protests and the referee shows her a yellow card.

It is the second half, so Rachael Laws has gone down for some treatment on her leg after a long ball by Crystal Palace ran out of play for a goal kick. She gets some tape under her knee before she gets up to take the goal kick.

Liverpool are really struggling with their decision making in defense. Defenders drop deep on a through ball rather than stepping and making a challenge on the attacker despite having cover inside, allowing a cross into the box to come in. Two defenders then both thing the other is going to step to Katie Stengel and neither does, leaving the American free to turn and try a shot from close range that deflects over the goal for a corner.

Liverpool make their fourth change of the match as Grace Fisk comes on for her first action of the season. She replaces Lucy Parry.

Liverpool work the ball forward and move it around the top of the box. It comes to Marie Höbinger who shifts it past a defender on her left foot before taking a shot, but she gets no power on it and Shea Yanez makes an easy save.

Ceri Holland drives down the left wing with the ball before cutting in and driving a cross into the box. A defender puts it behind with Leanne Kiernan making the run to get on the end of the ball. Marie Höbinger's corner gets caught by the wind and curls harmlessly over the crossbar for a goal kick.

Off the post by Olivia Smith! The youngster drives through the heart of midfield with the ball and unleashes a shot from the top of the D. The ball has the goalkeeper beaten, but it comes off the inside of the post and back into the box where it is cleared away.

Liverpool really pushing the pace here with just over 10 minutes left in regulation as they search for a winner. Kiernan, Holland, and Fisk have all provided a big boost since coming on, and Olivia Smith is still causing all sorts of problems for Crystal Palace. The Reds just need that one breakthrough now.

Liverpool again with some nice ball movement to play in and around the Crystal Palace midfield and defense. The ball is played forward to the feet of Fuka Nagano at the top of the box, and the Japanese midfielder turns and puts a shot on goal, but it lacks drive and ends with a fairly comfortable save.

Seven minutes of extra time for Liverpool to try and find a late winner. The Reds have a free kick in their own half as the match ticks past the 90 minute mark and Liverpool immediately turn it over in their own half.

After one nice attack in extra time, Liverpool now cannot get the ball out of their own half. Crystal Palace are happy to dawdle over every throw in and then look to force Liverpool into putting the ball out of play time after time.

One last push for the Reds and they earn a corner. Höbinger sets the ball as the corner flag almost leans over from the wind. The delivery is a decent one, but it is just too high as it skims off the head of Jasmine Matthews and goes across to the far side of the pitch. The referee blows for full time and the match ends in a draw.

Final Thoughts

Another extremely frustrating day for the Reds as they failed to really stamp their will on the visitors. Matt Beards side will now go into the first international break of the season fifth in the table. Liverpool will return to action on November 3 with a trip to Aston Villa.