Crystal Palace 1-1 Everton Women: WSL Match Report and Reaction

Veatriki Sarri felt her teammates gave everything against Crystal Palace as Honoka Hayashi’s looping header was only enough secure a point in a game largely controlled by Everton Women.

Indiah-Paige Riley put the hosts in front with barely a minute on the clock but the Blues pressure finally paid off as Hayashi directed Sarri’s pinpoint cross beyond Shae Yanez.

Both sides had chances to grab a winner, but honours remained even and Sarri acknowledged the effort made by the Toffees, who grabbed their second point of the season.

“I think it was a big shift from everyone,” she said.

“This is a tough place to come and play, they are very physical and I am really proud of the girls, we gave it everything until the very end.

“And we managed to get another point.

“We keep chipping away, the team is improving and we are slowly improving, especially after last week, which was disappointing.

“Today we bounced back and we keep going.”

Issy Hobson and Lucy Hope made way for Sara Holmgaard and Clare Wheeler in what was Brian Sorensen’s only changes from last week’s defeat to Chelsea as the Blues looked for a reaction to the game at Goodison Park.

It certainly wasn’t the start Everton wanted, however, as My Cato dispossessed Katja Snoeijs deep in the Toffees half before charging into the area and picking out Riley, who gave Courtney Brosnan no chance.

Hayashi very nearly provided an instant response, but saw her deflected strike cannon against the woodwork before being cleared to safety.

The two sides were contesting a physical encounter, with the Blues controlling the majority of the possession.

Chances were few, but Brosnan had to be alert to save from Cato, while Sarri tried her luck from distance but her effort was always rising.

The half’s best chance was fell Everton’s way a minute later.

The hard-working Karoline Olesen, who tackled Yanez after the stopper attempted to be clever, found Heather Payne who searched for her namesake Toni inside the six-yard box, only for Aimee Everett to crucially intercept the pass and ensure it was the Eagles who ended the half in front.

Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images

Everton looked the stronger side as the second half commenced but were being frustrated by Laura Kaminski’s side, who looked content to hold their lead.

The lead did not last, though, as on 71 minutes the Blues found their elusive equaliser through Hayashi.

The Japan international helped work the ball out wide to Sarri before ghosting into the area to send the Greek’s inviting cross into the goal as the visitors bench breathed a sigh of relief.

The trick was very nearly repeated three minutes later as Sarri delivered another inviting ball into the box, but Holmgaard’s header went just wide of the mark.

Palace weren’t done, though, and thought they’d grabbed a winner as the game moved into the final ten minutes. Shanade Hopcroft unleashed a powerful drive that looked destined for the back of the net only for Brosnan to produce an incredible save.

Both sides kept plugging away with Everton finding joy from the wide areas.

And it was a corner that produced the game’s final chance, with skipper Megan Finnigan’s shot just a bit too high of Yanez’s goal as it ended all square at at the VBS Community Stadium.

Everton’s next chance to get their first WSL win of the season comes at Goodison Park when neighbours Liverpool visit in the Merseyside derby.

Tickets for the last ever women’s derby at the Grand Old Lady can be purchased here.