Brighton 1-2 Everton: Own goal decisive as Toffees claim narrow win

Everton celebrate after scoring against Brighton — Everton's victory was only their second in six Women's Super League away games against Brighton

A Brighton own goal handed Everton a 2-1 victory in the Women's Super League as the Toffees moved closer to securing top-flight safety.

Guro Bergsvand bundled the ball into her own net after Everton winger Aurora Galli had taken advantage of a mix-up at the back.

In a tightly-matched game where neither goalkeeper came under too much pressure, the first goal did not arrive until the hour mark.

Everton went ahead when twins Karen and Sara Holmgaard combined, with substitute Karen nodding a cross past Sophie Baggaley at the back post.

But the Toffees were not able to celebrate their lead for long as Brighton levelled just two minutes later.

Tatiana Pinto smashed home a rebound after Maisie Symonds hit the crossbar with a free-kick and Everton keeper Courtney Brosnan failed to clear the rebound.

Brosnan had earlier made a crucial first-half save to prevent a scuffed Elisabeth Terland shot trickling into the Everton net.

Terland has 12 goals in the league this season but never really found her footing on Friday night as she was starved of service.

Both teams mostly cancelled each other out in the middle of the park and were limited to half-chances - and it was a defensive error which gave Everton the chance to snatch the win.

While avoiding the drop has seemed a formality for some time, Everton and Brighton will both be mathematically safe by the end of the weekend unless bottom-placed side Bristol City pick up points against Liverpool on Saturday (12:30 BST).

Relive Everton's victory over Brighton as it happened

Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text

Line-ups

Brighton Women

Formation 4-3-3

32Baggaley
26LiSubstituted forLeeat 66'minutes
5Bergsvand
14CarabalíSubstituted forThorisdóttirat 84'minutes
3Pattinson
18SymondsSubstituted forHaleyat 65'minutes
17Ferreira PintoBooked at 59minsSubstituted forKullbergat 84'minutes
10Olme
22Robinson
11Terland
7SarriSubstituted forBremerat 55'minutes

Substitutes

2Thorisdóttir
8Bremer
9Lee
16Kullberg
20Stefanovic
21Haley
28Loeck
44McEwan
45Dent

Everton Women

Formation 5-4-1

1Brosnan
17HopeSubstituted forBissellat 73'minutes
8Vanhaevermaet
20FinniganBooked at 75mins
27StenevikBooked at 49minsSubstituted forDaleat 88'minutes
23HolmgaardSubstituted forVejeat 73'minutes
22Galli
21KühlSubstituted forPiemonteat 88'minutes
7Wheeler
10BennisonSubstituted forHolmgaardat 55'minutes
25Snoeijs

Substitutes

2Veje
11Bissell
13Hart
15Dale
18Piemonte
28Holmgaard
30Wilding
47Olesen

Referee:: Kirsty Dowle
Attendance:: 4,987

Match Stats

Home TeamBrighton WomenAway TeamEverton Women

Possession: Home52%; Away48%

Shots: Home15; Away4

Shots on Target: Home6; Away4

Corners: Home10; Away1

Fouls: Home10; Away9

Live Text

Post update
Match ends, Brighton and Hove Albion Women 1, Everton Women 2.
90'+6'
Full Time
Second Half ends, Brighton and Hove Albion Women 1, Everton Women 2.

90'+5'
Post update
Foul by Katie Robinson (Brighton and Hove Albion Women).
90'+5'
Post update
Courtney Brosnan (Everton Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'+4'
Post update
Attempt missed. Elisabeth Terland (Brighton and Hove Albion Women) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
90'+2'
Post update
Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion Women. Conceded by Clare Wheeler.
90'+2'
Post update
Attempt blocked. Pauline Bremer (Brighton and Hove Albion Women) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is blocked.
90'+2'
Post update
Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion Women. Conceded by Katja Snoeijs.
89'
Post update
Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion Women. Conceded by Clare Wheeler.
88'
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
88'
Substitution
Substitution, Everton Women. Eleanor Dale replaces Elise Stenevik because of an injury.
88'
Substitution
Substitution, Everton Women. Martina Piemonte replaces Kathrine Kühl.
88'
Post update
Delay in match because of an injury Elise Stenevik (Everton Women).
84'
Substitution
Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion Women. Emma Kullberg replaces Tatiana Pinto.
84'
Substitution
Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion Women. Maria Thorisdóttir replaces Jorelyn Carabalí.
83'
Post update
Attempt saved. Katie Robinson (Brighton and Hove Albion Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Pauline Bremer with a headed pass.
77'
Post update
Foul by Justine Vanhaevermaet (Everton Women).
77'
Post update
Elisabeth Terland (Brighton and Hove Albion Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
75'
Booking
Megan Finnigan (Everton Women) is shown the yellow card.
75'
Post update
Foul by Katja Snoeijs (Everton Women).

As It Stood

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Chelsea Women	18	15	1	2	53	14	39	46
2	Man City Women	18	15	1	2	49	12	37	46
3	Arsenal Women	18	13	1	4	42	18	24	40

4	Man Utd Women	18	9	4	5	39	23	16	31
5	Liverpool Women	18	8	5	5	26	25	1	29
6	Tottenham Women	17	7	4	6	23	29	-6	25
7	Aston Villa Women	19	6	2	11	24	40	-16	20
8	Brighton Women	19	5	3	11	25	41	-16	18
9	Everton Women	19	5	3	11	17	34	-17	18
10	Leicester City Women	18	4	5	9	25	36	-11	17
11	West Ham Women	18	3	4	11	17	35	-18	13

12	Bristol City Women	18	1	3	14	20	53	-33	6

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Comments

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151 comments

Comment posted by Bonamai, at 23:59 19 Apr
Brighton Women’s usual home stadium (Broadfields) holds just over 6,000. The Amex can hold 30,000.

With an attendance of just under 5,000, surely there would be a better atmosphere in the smaller venue?
Reply posted by Claire , at 08:20 20 Apr
Claire replied:
You wont get 5000 for Everton on a Friday night at the Broadfield. That's a figure for when the lionesses visit with their teams.
Comment posted by Topgun, at 08:32 20 Apr
Why don’t all those fans complaining it should be on BBC get out of their arm chairs buy a ticket and go to the game.
Reply posted by Keep it real, at 08:37 20 Apr
Keep it real replied:
World class football should be available for the masses hence the bbc should be promoting this and showing it live

With many games sold out it’s not easy to get tickets.

Will watch my local national league south team today 👍
Comment posted by deano123, at 01:10 20 Apr
Headless chickens.
Reply posted by VanImpe, at 08:38 20 Apr
VanImpe replied:
Of you don't like football, try athletics or swimming.
Comment posted by Hyperion , at 21:18 19 Apr
Nice one.... up the Toffyets
Comment posted by User0582795847, at 11:17 20 Apr
Brighton can only learn from this defeat and endeavour to do better in their next game.
Comment posted by Heather, at 09:17 20 Apr
Went to the game last night .and also been to the last 4 Brighton games were they haven't scored so good to see a goal at the Amex they played alot better bad mistake for Evertons goal and the Brighton goalkeeper should have come of her line ..Still glad went to the game and support the Seagulls
Comment posted by Onlythetruth, at 22:44 19 Apr
40,000 in that stadium I'd say looking at the photos
Comment posted by Perry Scope, at 22:09 19 Apr
Brighton just not getting it right with the Women’s side of things. In spite of a succession of coaches, multiple signings, results remain poor. Too, fan support for the team is just not there. All very disappointing.
Comment posted by Lizardboy, at 21:12 19 Apr
At last, much more positive from EFC. Wheeler's quick thinking sent a free kick forwards rather than the usual backwards, paid off. To say we won with an o g is not really true. We would have had a pen anyway. Those twins are brilliant. Sara assist, Karen goal. Forward, forward, Toffee girls.
Comment posted by Unknownfan24, at 00:05 20 Apr
But Brighton are still above Everton.
Comment posted by User0582795847, at 11:22 20 Apr
I expected an Everton victory from the start.