Everton sink Liverpool thanks to penalty awarded for foul outside box | OneFootball

Everton climbed off the bottom of the Women’s Super League table courtesy of a controversial penalty in their slender 1-0 victory over rivals Liverpool.

It was the first win of Brian Sorensen’s side’s injury-hit league campaign and came much to the frustration of their Merseyside neighbours, who could scarcely believe their eyes when the hosts were awarded a first-half spot-kick for a foul on the Japan midfielder Honoka Hayashi that replays showed had taken place outside of the box. Katja Snoeijs converted the penalty in the 41st minute.

Liverpool’s exasperation was only added to in the second half when they were not awarded a penalty of their own when they felt Sara Holmgaard had pushed the Wales international Ceri Holland in the box. Their manager Matt Beard could be seen slamming his arms against his body in disbelief.

Earlier in the second period, the visitors’ Fuka Nagano was denied by a remarkably-good double save from goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan, as the team in blue claimed the bragging rights in the final WSL Merseyside derby to be staged at Goodison Park. Aside from any cup meetings later in this campaign, the two sides will not meet again on this ground, which holds huge historical importance in women’s football after playing host to one of the most iconic women’s matches in history on Boxing Day 1920, when the trailblazing Dick, Kerr’s Ladies beat St Helens in front of a sold-out crowd.

Beard’s team applied significant late pressure but were unable to find a leveller and they suffered their third defeat from their opening eight WSL games of the season, but they remain sixth. They created a glorious chance to equalise, deep into second-half stoppage time, but Gemma Bonner fired straight at Brosnan. Liverpool remain without an away victory over Everton since September 2017.

It was the third season in a row in which Everton’s first league win of the campaign had come against Liverpool, but the previous two had come at Anfield, and the joy for the hosts was clear for all to see as they celebrated at full-time.

Header image: [Photograph: Sky Sports]