Everton struck a late winner to see off Aston Villa in the Women’s Super League at Goodison Park on Sunday afternoon.
A ruthless finish from Ebony Salmon put the visitors in front after 13 minutes, and they spurned chances to build on their lead.
Martina Fernández headed the Toffees level after 32 minutes and then repeated the trick with 60 seconds left in the game to win it for the hosts.
Defeat leaves Natalia Arroyo’s side eighth in the Super League, with the team returning to Merseyside to play Liverpool next weekend.
Villa Women,
Villa arrived at Goodison Park looking to bounce back from a heavy loss to Manchester United last time out, showing four changes to their starting lineup, including a first start for January signing Oriane Jean-François.
Everton, who were desperate for a win after five defeats in their last six league games, fired the first effort on target after ten minutes when Nicole Momiki dribbled into the box and called Sabrina D’Angelo into a save.
Just three minutes later, the visitors snatched the lead when Ruby Mace’s errant pass fell to Salmon, who, positioned just outside the box, drove past a defender before lashing the ball beyond Courtney Brosnan.
The hosts fought their way back into the game and equalised after 32 minutes, Fernández ghosting in at the back post to head home Mace’s corner.
Villa should have been back in front almost immediately after Kirsty Hanson led a counter-attack before putting Georgia Mullett in. However, the striker saw a shot saved before missing the target with the rebound, with the goal at her mercy.
The crossbar came to the away team’s rescue in the final minutes of the half when Ornella Vignola curled a shot against the frame of the goal.
Villa Women, Mullett
Arroyo’s troops regrouped at the break and started the second half on top, seeing a goalbound Miri Taylor shot blocked by Fernández as they dominated the opening minutes.
Villa were in full control as the half wore on, penning Everton inside their own half, but they were finding it tough to carve out goalscoring opportunities.
And they had D’Angelo to thank for blocking a long free-kick into the box as it evaded everyone and skidded goalwards.
Villa Women, Hanson
With the match ticking into the final 15 minutes, Jenna Nighswonger and Chasity Grant came on for Villa, while Everton introduced former Villan Maz Pacheco.
A draw looked the most likely outcome until the 89th minute, when Fernández popped up again, drifting unmarked to the back post once more and planting a header between the legs of D’Angelo.