Everton remain winless in the Women’s Super League this season as Leicester clinch all three points after a vital 1-0 victory at the King Power Stadium.
The Blues head into the international break bottom of the league, despite two encouraging performances, with a narrow defeat to Leicester and a 1-1 draw against West Ham, creating an array of chances but failing to convert.
Everton began looking the most likely to score with a shot on target registered early on as Honoka Hayashi drilled the ball towards Janina Leitzig’s net before the keeper claimed her low effort.
It was the hosts however, who managed to materialise their immediate opportunities, with a spectacular Yuka Momikisolo goal separating the teams in the opening stages of the game. She threaded the ball through Justine Vanhaevermaet’s legs, finding space to deliver a precise strike that nestled into the bottom right corner.
This didn’t inhibit the Toffees momentum however, as they pressed forward with the same determination and drive, despite falling a goal down.
Leitzig produced a crucial save to deny Katja Snoeijs an equaliser as Sara Holmgaard knocked the ball into a crowded box. It eventually found Snoeijs at close range, and she connected with a shot, but the keeper did well to get low quickly and block the attempt.
Heather Payne shortly followed showcasing her sharp vision, as she caught sight of Hayashi’s decisive run into the box, slipping a pass into her path. However, it was a touch too heavy, enabling Leitzig to rush out and claim the ballmoments before Hayashi could latch onto the end.
The next 20 minutes followed a similar pattern with progressive runs and threatening attacks in the final third testing the Foxes defence.
Leicester still had their chances, forcing Everton’s back line to remain resilient as Momiki continued to threaten down the right flank. Fortunately for the visitors , CJ Bott failed to connect with an inviting cross, allowing the defence to clear the danger.
The Merseyside outfit were battling intensely to see themselves on an even score line at the break as Lucy Hope played an exciting move down the right-hand channel executing a give-and-go to find herself in position to advance through the top of the box and direct a shot towards the target, but Leitzig was equal to it, protecting their lead.
Half-time substitute, Toni Payne, injected more positivity intoEverton’s attack seeing her menacing in and around the box. She almost found the answer in the 62nd minute as she slotted a compelling low cross from the right, begging for someone to tap it in. But both Veatriki and Holmgaard missed the opportunity, being margins away from contact.
Courtney Brosnan was called into action as Leicester almost extended their lead through Cain, making a comeback from an ACL injury which saw her out for 10 months, as her attempt rose across the crossbar.
Everton almost snatched a last-gasp equaliser, however it wasn’t meant to be for the Toffees as Vanhaevermaet failed to find the target from a close-range header, with one goal enough for Leicester to secure the win.
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