Everton hosted Tottenham at Goodison Park in gameweek two of the Women's Super League in their first game at the stadium since it being confirmed as their permanent home. Both sides were looking to build on their perfect starts, after collecting all three points in their opening matches of the campaign.
The opening exchanges of the game were cagey, with Tottenham having the majority of the chances to take the lead.
They did so in the 28th minute of the game, thanks to a goal from Olga Ahtinen, from a chance created by summer signing Cathinka Tandberg, who brought a brilliant dose of physicality to the London side.
An ambitious shot from just past the halfway line, proved to be one well worth taking as Tandberg spotted Courtney Brosnan off her line, sending Tottenham 2-0 up, just moments into the second half.
Despite a shift in momentum for Brian Sorenson's side after half time, it did not come together for Everton on the day, and they were beaten at their new home in front of a 6,473 strong crowd.
Story of the Match
Sorenson made two changes to his starting XI from the opening weekend of the WSL as Hayley Ladd and Honoka Hayashi dropped to the bench, being replaced by Clare Wheeeler and summer signing Ruby Mace.
There were also two changes to Tottenham's starting lineup, as Olivia Holdt and Araya Dennis were replaced by Olga Ahtinen as well Cathinka Tandberg, who made her first start for the side since signing from Hammarby over the summer.
It was Everton who looked lively in the opening exchanges, with Spanish forward Ornella Vignola pressing high and winning the ball in dangerous areas, demonstrating the threat that she posed to the Tottenham defence from the offset.
It was Tottenham, however, who had the first real chances of the game winning a sequence of corners inside the first ten minutes. Notably, Drew Spence looked to poke home a loose ball in the box, but Everton composed themselves quickly enough to clear the danger.
A cross from Ahtinen followed shortly after, which was cleared by Spanish defencer Martina Fernandez, who along with Pacheco looked composed and confident on the left side of the Everton defence. Eveliina Summanen then poked a through ball into the box hoping to find Tandberg, but again, Everton quickly averted the threat.
Tottenham who continued to look more of an attacking threat, with Everton struggling to connect on the pitch to create any real chances in the opening third of the game.
As the clock approached the 30 minute mark, Jessica Naz made a cross that was intercepted on the edge of the area, but Tandberg swooped in to win the ball back, and lifted it into the penalty area to find Ahtinen who slid the ball cleanly into the bottom corner, seeing Martin Ho's side take the lead.
Everton looked to respond immediately as Vignola put a brilliant ball into the box but cleared by a combination of Jessica Naz and Toko Koga. Vignola continued the high press and won the corner for Everton which led to the ball falling to Ruby Mace on the edge of the penalty area, who attempted an ambitious volley, but the ball flew over the bar and out for a goal kick.
Tandberg, who had so far impressed on her debut for the London side, was booked for a sliding tackle on Vignola, seeing Everton win the free kick mid way between hald way line and box.
Pacheco's delivery saw Lize Kop attempt to come out and claim, but she failed to do so initially to do so. After a scramble, Tottenham managed to clear the ball away and retain their lead.
Tottenham were soon on the attack again. This time, captain Bethany England failed to make connection with the ball as she attempted a bicycle kick leaving a loose ball in the penalty area and Courtney Brosnan and the Everton defence scrambling to clear the danger, though Brosnan eventually managed to claim the ball.
The exchange left the Everton defence looking slightly shaken, as a loose pass across the back line was intercepted by Tandberg but Everton managed to win it back and look to set off their own attacking move.
Sorenson's side looked rather disjointed in the opening half of the game, though, and were unable to create any decent chance.
In additional time of the first half, Martin Ho's sides composure faltered slightly, giving away possession in the final third on multiple occasions, gifting Everton chances to equalise before the break.
In an exchange which involved three new signings Rosa Van Gool, Vignola and Pacheco, Sorenson's side had multiple shots, though, all were deflected. Tottenham led 1-0 at the break.
Sorenson made two substitutions at half time, with Katie Robinson and Clare Wheeler making way for Karen Holmgaard and Kelly Gago.
Matters continued to get better for Tottenham, as Tandberg won the ball close to the halfway line, spotted Brosnan off her line and attempted an ambitious shot from distance. The spectacular shot proved well worth taking, as Brosnan could do nothing about it as she sprinted back towards her line, but the ball nestled in the back of the net. 2-0 Tottenham.
Everton find some momentum
Half time substituion Gago looked immediately lively for Everton down the left hand side, putting a low ball in across the box, but Yuka Momiki's shot was blocked.
New signing continuted to Van Gool also look bright, holding up play well in attempts to start an Everton attack, but much like in the first half, things did not seem to be coming together for them, as the game approached the hour mark.
Just past the hour mark Mace found herself with the ball at her feet on the edge of the area and took a low powerful shot, which was somewhat easily dealt with dealt with by Kop.
Tottenham's first goalscorer Ahtinen was replaced by Lena Gunning-Williams who immediately set Everton off on an attack, though some impressive defensive work by Mace saw the ball safely into the hands of Brosnan.
Everton's momentum continued to pick up as Vignola, who scored a hattrick against Liverpool on her debut last week, made a high flying cross into the area, looking to set up Gago, who could not quite make connection with the ball and Kop claimed safety.
As Everton looked to find a goal, Sorenson made another substitution as the game approached the 75 minute mark, with Momiki leaving the field for Toni Payne.
In a flurry of substitutions, Charlotte Grant entered the field for Tottenham shortly after, replacing Josefine Rybrink. Mace, who looked one of the liveliest players on the pitch for Everton, made way for Honoka Hayashi.
There were shouts for a penalty for Everton from the home crowd for a handball, as a relentless passage of play between Vignola, Pachecho which set up a shot for Sorenson's side, but the referee moved play swiftly on.
Despite being goalless in the game up to this point, it was clear that Everton's summer signings have already somewhat cemented themselves as key players.
Play moved swiftly to the opposite end of the pitch, as Drew Spence took a powerful shot, which was punched away by Brosnan. The danger was not yet completely dealt with, as Tandberg looked for her third goal involvement of the game, but the Everton defence was able to see it out for a corner, which Tottenham could not make anything of in the end.
The attendance for the clash at Goodison Park was announced to be a 6,473 strong crowd, a strong turn out for Everton at their first home game of the season.
Further substitutions were made in the dying minutes of the game for both sides, Kit Graham of Tottenham on for Tandberg and Elise Stenevik replacing Maz Pacheco for Everton.
Graham immediately won a free kick just past the halfway line, allowing Nilden to deliver a powerful ball in the area. There were a number of Tottenham bodies available, but an unsuccessful headed attempt saw Brosnan claim the ball, as Tottenham retained their 2-0 lead.
Player of the Match - Cathinka Tandberg
Undoubtedly, player of the match was Tandberg, who bagged herself a goal and an assist on her debut for Tottenham.
Her physicality proved to be an integral part of the success that Ho's side had at Goodison Park, winning the ball in dangerous areas and demonstrating excellent vision and relentless press throughout. It was these impressive abilities which led to both of Tottenham's goals.
The forward signed from Hammarby over the summer, and looks to have connected brilliantly already with the squad, despite only having been at the club since the final day of the transfer window.