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At a glance
Everton's first WSL game at the Hill Dickinson Stadium ends in defeat
Honoka Hayashi puts Everton in front, but Melvine Malard levels
A Hikaru Kitagawa own goal hands Man Utd the lead before Jess Park's late double seals success
PLAYER RATINGS
Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter at Hill Dickinson Stadium
Manchester United spoiled Everton's first Women's Super League game at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, maintaining their unbeaten start to the season with a battling victory.
Marc Skinner's side, who have won four and drawn two of their opening six WSL matches, had to come from behind in front of a crowd of 18,154.
Honoka Hayashi put Everton ahead against the run of play when she pounced on Phallon Tullis-Joyce's clearance at a corner.
It marked a historic moment as Everton's first WSL goal at the new stadium on Bramley-Moore Dock and stunned plenty inside the ground.
United, who had dominated and created numerous chances, were held by Everton until the 62nd minute when Melvine Malard eventually equalised.
The France international raced through one-on-one with goalkeeper Emily Ramsey and put away the rebound after her strike had initially been saved.
That gave United the boost they needed and they were rewarded for their efforts when Hikaru Kitagawa's own goal doubled their tally, before substitute Jess Park netted two late goals to finish Everton off.
The result was a welcome one for United as they put pressure on WSL leaders Chelsea in the title race with a two-point gap, while 10th-placed Everton are yet to win a game at either home stadium.
Everton analysis: Historic occasion ends on flat note
With 18,154 in attendance at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, Everton had hoped to put on a show for their first WSL game on Bramley-Moore Dock.
Despite Goodison Park becoming their home for the season, they took advantage of the men's international break to play a rare match at the new stadium, fulfilling a seasonal request by the league to play at least one fixture there.
The usual Z Cars theme tune rang out before kick-off and flags from the Everton Women Supporters Club were brought across the city to hang proudly in the South Stand.
But it was not the explosive start they would have hoped for as Manchester United completely dominated possession in the opening stages and had three big chances before Everton had settled.
Goalkeeper Ramsey was called into action when Malard's cheeky overhead flick almost deflected in off Everton midfielder Karen Holmgaard. It followed a miscued header wide from Elisabeth Terland from an unmarked position just a few yards out and Lisa Naalsund firing wildly over the bar.
How United were not at least 2-0 up was a mystery, but Everton capitalised at their first opportunity on a set-piece.
Hayashi's goal rocked Skinner's side for the first half but, on the whole, it was not a performance that would have thrilled Everton supporters.
They lacked creativity and bite, often struggling to build momentum, and when United eventually found the equaliser through Malard, it felt like a matter of time before they would add more.
It only took eight minutes, courtesy of Kitagawa's unfortunate deflection, before Park's introduction made a difference and finished things off.
Everton remain a team who are learning to play with each other after a busy summer transfer window that saw the arrival of nine players and this was another demonstration of that.
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Everton
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12E. Ramsey
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13H. Kitagawa
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28K. Holmgaard
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27E. Stenevik
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5Martina Fernández
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30R. Mace
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7C. Wheeler
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29Y. Momiki
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6H. Hayashi
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19K. Robinson
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18Ornella Vignola
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11K. Gago
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16H. Ladd
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33M. Pacheco
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9T. Payne
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8R. van Gool
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Starting XI
91P. Tullis-Joyce
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2A. Sandberg
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17D. Janssen
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4M. Le Tissier
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14J. Riviere
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20H. Miyazawa
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12F. Rolfö
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7E. Toone
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16L. Naalsund
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9M. Malard
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10E. Terland
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11L. Galton
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3G. George
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8J. Park
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28R. Williams
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18J. Zigiotti Olme
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