An own goal by goalkeeper Kirstie Levell deep in stoppage time gave Everton victory over Leicester City in the Women’s Super League.
The Toffees were looking to capitalise on their Merseyside derby victory over Liverpool but were frustrated by a bright Leicester side.
Substitute Hanna Bennison, 19, sent fans inside a sold-out Walton Hall Park into wild celebrations when her free-kick was palmed in after 94 minutes.
Leicester remain pointless this season.
Confidence was sky-high in Everton’s camp following their superb win at Anfield on Sunday and they were looking to carry momentum into their first home game of the season.
However, Leicester were resilient, energetic and posed a threat of their own as they searched for their first points of the 2022-23 campaign.
Lydia Bedford’s side, who finished second bottom in the league last season, were asking questions of Everton’s defence and enjoyed small spells of attacking pressure in the second half.
Summer signings Josie Green and Aileen Whelan led their press from the front and won the ball back in dangerous areas on a few occasions, though Leicester could not capitalise.
Full-back Jemma Purfield tested goalkeeper Emily Ramsey, on loan from Manchester United and making her Everton debut, when her free-kick was palmed away.
But Everton were often in control of possession and got in behind the Leicester defence several times, though Izzy Christiansen and Jess Park were unable to link up.
Striker Katja Snoeijs came close to getting on the end of one Christiansen delivery, before Gabby George fizzed in a dangerous ball from the left to test Leicester goalkeeper Levell.
Everton substitutes Karen Holmgaard and Bennison made early impressions when they came on – both firing good efforts towards goal – while on-loan Arsenal winger Gio Queiroz also looked lively.
The Toffees pushed for the winner in stoppage time and eventually it was teenager Bennison who stepped up to provide it, helped by goalkeeper Levell, who pushed the ball into her net when it looked likely to go wide of the post.
It gave new Everton boss Brian Sorensen his second victory of the season, while Leicester made it three defeats from their opening three matches.
Line-ups
Everton Women
Formation 5-4-1
- 12Ramsey
- 17GrahamBooked at 38mins
- 20Finnigan
- 4Sevecke
- 2VejeSubstituted forMaierat 85′minutes
- 6GeorgeSubstituted forStenevikat 70′minutes
- 11ParkSubstituted forQueiroz Costaat 69′minutes
- 22GalliSubstituted forHolmgaardat 61′minutes
- 5BjörnBooked at 52mins
- 8ChristiansenSubstituted forBennisonat 61′minutes
- 25Snoeijs
Substitutes
- 10Bennison
- 18Brosnan
- 19Queiroz Costa
- 21Maier
- 24Weir
- 27Stenevik
- 28Holmgaard
Leicester City Women
Formation 3-5-2
- 28Levell
- 15Howard
- 3Tierney
- 22PlumptreBooked at 81mins
- 13Simon
- 10Whelan
- 14GreenSubstituted forBottat 75′minutes
- 8PikeBooked at 88mins
- 23Purfield
- 16JonesSubstituted forFlintat 55′minutesSubstituted forScofieldat 90+3′minutes
- 27O’BrienBooked at 70minsSubstituted forGoodwinat 75′minutes
Substitutes
- 2Vance
- 4Bott
- 7Flint
- 12Jones
- 20Goodwin
- 35Poor
- 40Robinson
- 44Scofield
Live Text
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Match ends, Everton Women 1, Leicester City Women 0.
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Second Half ends, Everton Women 1, Leicester City Women 0.
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Own Goal by Kirstie Levell, Leicester City Women. Everton Women 1, Leicester City Women 0.
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Elise Stenevik (Everton Women) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Catherine Bott (Leicester City Women).
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Substitution, Leicester City Women. Connie Scofield replaces Natasha Flint.
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Corner, Everton Women. Conceded by Sophie Howard.
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Foul by Leonie Maier (Everton Women).
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Erin Simon (Leicester City Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Molly Pike (Leicester City Women) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Karen Holmgaard (Everton Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Molly Pike (Leicester City Women).
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Corner, Everton Women. Conceded by Aileen Whelan.
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Lucy Graham (Everton Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Molly Pike (Leicester City Women).
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Substitution, Everton Women. Leonie Maier replaces Katrine Veje.
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Corner, Leicester City Women. Conceded by Lucy Graham.
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Attempt blocked. Molly Pike (Leicester City Women) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Missy Goodwin.
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Ashleigh Plumptre (Leicester City Women) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Rikke Sevecke (Everton Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
