Everton Women Begin New Era At Goodison Park With Loss To Tottenham

As a caller era began astatine Goodison Park, immoderate Everton women’s fans hoping to spot a awesome extremity subordinate nan agelong database of iconic strikes scored crossed 133 years of this celebrated ground’s history were so provided pinch a memorable one. The problem for nan hosts was, it was scored by a Tottenham player.

When Cathinka Tandberg spotted Courtney Brosnan disconnected her line, arsenic she received nan shot 35 yards out, she did not hesitate to effort nan lob, and she would spoil nan statement for Everton successful their first competitory lucifer since making Goodison Park their imperishable home. Her first-time onslaught dropped perfectly and capped disconnected a thoroughly awesome distant capacity for nan northbound London club, who made it 2 victories retired of 2 truthful acold nether their caller caput coach, Martin Ho.

That eager effort, 4 minutes into nan 2nd half, came aft Olga Ahtinen had slotted Tottenham successful beforehand 27 minutes into a first half they controlled, pinch Everton incapable to click into gear. Ahtinen’s opener came aft she won nan shot connected nan separator of nan area, played a one-two pinch Tandberg and slotted debased past Brosnan.

Both goals came from Tottenham pressing pinch intensity, arsenic Bethany England likewise tackled Rion Ishikawa earlier laying nan shot disconnected for Tandberg’s long-range lob, connected nan Norway striker’s first commencement since her deadline-day move from nan Swedish broadside Hammarby.

“She did it successful training this week,” Ho said of Tandberg. “The courageousness to do that and nan risk-taking to do that is large and that’s what she’s built on. Overall, her capacity was brilliant.”

New signage extracurricular Goodison Park. Photograph: John Clifton/Action Images/Reuters

The erstwhile England striker Ellen White labelled nan onslaught “absolutely ridiculous” connected nan BBC’s unrecorded tv sum and Tandberg told nan broadcaster: “I did it successful my past club. You conscionable person to spell for it, and erstwhile you people that, it’s unbelievable. When I get those moments I person to do what I for illustration and that’s scoring goals, truthful ‘go for it’.”

It was besides a 2nd consecutive cleanable expanse for Tottenham, whereas for Everton nan consequence brought them backmost down to world somewhat, aft their hugely affirmative triumph distant astatine Anfield. This crippled was still historical for them, though. They were backed by 6,473 astatine Goodison, an attendance which is astir 3 times nan maximum capacity of their erstwhile home, Walton Hall Park.

In nan stands location were immoderate signs of “the expansive aged lady” having been vacated precocious by Everton’s men’s team, not slightest nan galore hundreds of seats that person been removed, but successful wide nan venue looked very smart. The rebrand astir nan exterior has been impressive; a timeline of nan women’s team’s history is now recovered proudly on Goodison Road, while on Walton Road, a bid of caller banners show nan “Everton Women” sanction and say: “A history we own; a early we are making.” Another simply reads: “Goodison Park, nan location of Everton Women.”

Despite dense pre-match rain, nan ambiance was encouraging and nan location fans, backed by a drummer, sang aged classics specified arsenic Spirit of nan Blues.

“The nine has done a magnificent job,” nan Everton manager, Brian Sorensen, said. It looks for illustration our location and it looks good, truthful I’m happy for women’s shot successful this portion of England, that we person a level for illustration this. Of course, we want to do better. I don’t cognize if it was nan occasion. But it’s connected maine to make judge they’re 100% ready, and they weren’t.”

Ho, formerly a subordinate astatine Everton’s boys academy himself earlier later moving arsenic nan adjunct coach of Everton Women betwixt 2015 and 2018, labelled nan stadium arsenic beautiful, saying: “Coming backmost present was an unbelievable feeling. As soon arsenic you travel successful here, you do consciousness intimidated because nan stadium is rather enclosed. And that’s 1 point I said to nan players earlier nan game, was ‘we person to expect it to beryllium a spot hostile’, and I thought nan fans were brilliant.”

Everton’s champion moments featuring Ruby Mace having a deflected changeable saved and Rosa van Gool curling over, but Tottenham had nan amended chances by acold pinch Tandberg sliding wide successful nan first half, England heading wide successful nan 2nd and Drew Spence forcing Brosnan into a smart, precocious save. Tottenham are 1 of 4 teams pinch a 100% winning start.