Everton secured their first win of the season as they defeated Liverpool 1-0 with a controversial penalty in the last Women’s Super League Merseyside Derby at Goodison Park
Everton snatched a dramatic 1-0 victory over Liverpool in the last ever Women’s Super League Merseyside Derby at Goodison Park, through a controversial penalty. Brian Sorensen’s Blues went into the fixture propping up the table after seven matches but moved off the bottom as they secured a first win of the season as Dutch international forward Katja Snoeijs held her nerve from 12 yards out to convert the only goal of the game, four minutes before full-time.
The pivotal moment came with Liverpool’s Fuka Nagano brought down Everton’s fellow Japan international midfielder Honoka Hayashi, but despite replays suggesting that the initial contact was outside the area, referee Abigail Byrne pointed to the spot.
Reds players and staff were furious with the decision but Amsterdam-born Snoeijs, 28, who joined the Blues from French side Bordeaux in 2022, wrote herself into the record books on a landmark day as she kept her cool to despatch a composed finish into the bottom right corner of Teagan Micah’s goal, sending the visiting keeper the wrong way.
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Everton had to withstand some significant pressure from Matt Beard’s side late on with over eight minutes of additional time played but with 95 minutes on the clock, Courtney Brosnan denied Gemma Bonner with a stunning save to maintain a clean sheet and what could be a hugely significant three points.
Everton (5-4-1): Brosnan; Payne, Hope, Finnigan, Vanhaevermaet; Homgaard; Hayashi (Olesen 72), Wheeler, Snoeijs (Bissell 62), Lawley (Sarri 73); Payne (Hobson 81).
Liverpool (3-5-2): Micha; Clark (Kapocs 61), Silcock (Evans 61), Bonner; Nagano, Hobinger, Holland, Fisk (Daniels 85), Hinds; Smith, Kiernan (Enderby 71).
