By Georgia Garnett at Gander Green Lane
CRYSTAL Palace Women rebounded from a tough loss to Manchester City to earn a 1-1 draw against Everton at the VBS Community Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Indiah-Paige Riley netted Palace’s goal just 29 seconds in, before a late header from Honoka Hayashi ensured the game finished in a draw.
In the first-ever competitive game between the sides, Palace could not end Everton’s streak of nine straight WSL games against newly promoted opposition without a loss (W6 D3).
Post-match, Eagles manager Laura Kaminski said: “There were lots of positives for us to build on, we believe we can get points out of every game and that’s the attitude and mindset I want players to keep.”
Palace started fast as Riley pounced on an Everton defensive error to score.
Shae Yañez made a crucial save in the game’s third minute, punching the ball away to deny Hayashi.
Katie Stengel and My Cato had two attempts in quick succession after a quarter of an hour, but were denied by Everton goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan.
A half an hour in, Cato didn’t get enough power on her shot, as Brosnan made an easy save.
VeatrikiSarri attempted an ambitious cross for Everton in the first half’s final five minutes but it sailed over the bar.
Just before half-time, Riley played a corner short to Lily Woodham who swung a cross into the box, where Mille Gejl tried to get a shot in but Everton cleared.
Katja Snoeijs pulled a shot wide with Everton’s first attempt of the second half.
AshleighWeerden looked destined to score Palace’s second goal an hour in, before JustineVanhaevermaet made an essential block to keep the visitors in it.
It took until 72 minutes for Everton to get a shot on target, as Hayashi levelled the match with a header that was also Everton’s first goal of the WSL season scored by one of their own players.
Everton had three successive attempts to get a second goal several minutes later, but Sara Holmgaard, Toni Payne and Melissa Lawley could not get the ball past Yañez.
It was then Palace’s turn to have three quick efforts with ten minutes left, but Gejl, Shanade Hopcroft and Woodham were unable to score.
In the game’s final moments, Cato was inches away from netting the winner for Palace, but her shot was blocked.
Palace have five points after seven games and are tenth in the WSL standings.
Palace’s next league game is at Aston Villa on Sunday November 17 at 2pm.
