Manchester City Women 4, Everton Women 0
Manchester City made it 20 straight wins over Everton in all competitions as they beat the Toffees 4-0 again at the City Football Academy.
Embed from Getty ImagesAn own goal by Simone Magill was followed by an Ellen White goal before two late goals by Alex Greenwood and Laura Coombs improved City’s goal difference as they chalked up 100 WSL wins since turning professional in 2014.
The comfortable victory comes after beating their opponents by the same scoreline on Sunday in the Women’s FA Cup.
The four goal winning margin wasn’t enough to see City depose Manchester United in third place but the stage is now set for an exciting finish to the season as both sides are now level on points and games played with just a goal difference of +2 keeping the Reds in the final Champions League place.
After a poor start to the Super League season, City have won 15 out of 17 games in all competitions and, although a top two finish like they have enjoyed since becoming a professional outfit looks unlikely this time, a third place finish is achievable.
Everton’s interim manager, Chris Roberts, has another tough game on Sunday – at 3rd place Manchester United – but was proud of his team who have had a very tough run of games, playing Chelsea and then City twice in the space of seven days with United to follow on Sunday at Old Trafford.
He said: “I was so proud of my team, that was the third world class team we have faced in seven days.
“My message was to take what positives we can.
“You can never switch off, two set pieces turned into goals.
“We performed the best we can and lost four goals.
“It feels harsh, we played better than on Sunday [against City].
“But what better preparation to play Man City than to play Man City!
“To come here on Sunday and lose four goals it would have been easy to fall apart but that shows the togetherness of this group and the girls give me that every day.
“To play such high level opposition back to back is draining.”, adding: “We need to improve in both boxes.”
After two games back to back against the Toffees City boss Gareth Taylor wasn’t quite sure of what to expect but was happy that his side overcame the challenge despite not playing at their best after the break.
He said: “We controlled the play again, we weren’t really sure what to expect from Everton. They started with 5-3-2 then went 5-4-1 in the second half.
“The players adapted to Everton – they came out quickly and let us find the spaces easier but they blocked the lines in the second half.
“There were some really good bits in the first half – in the second half we were a bit flat especially in the final actions.
“I think we scored twice in 30 seconds in the second half though.
“We had some good performances from individuals but some that were off the pace.
“The score was probably about right but I don’t think we worked the goalkeeper enough.
“Our play most of the time deserved it but we need it to see on a more consistent basis.
He added: “It’s good that we could claw back to the position we are in now.
“We would have been disappointed to only win 2-0, it’s not easy to play against a back five.
“Everton have been fighting for their lives but they came out and had a go and were still there at 2-0.
“But when we get the performance right we see goals and the football that we want to see.”
Manchester City Women hit four again against Everton to boost Champions League hopes
City made two changes from the side that beat Everton on Sunday with Filippa Angeldahl and Jess Park stepping down to the bench in favour of Georgia Stanway and Hayley Raso.
It was almost all one way traffic in the first half with Caroline Weir and Raso causing problems to the Everton defence who tried to keep City away from their box.
Everton were well aware of the danger and tried to keep Weir occupied when she came within shooting range.
They couldn’t keep it up though and Weir’s corner came off Simone Magill to break the deadlock after 25 minutes.
Ellen White converted a classic City goal from 12 yards out after Lucy Bronze pulled the ball back from the right touchline.
And White could have made it a quick fire double but Sandy MacIver made the save soon after the restart.
It was all very comfortable for City and Georgia Stanway went close in the second half despite slipping as she struck her shot.
She went down after a challenge by Aurora Galli but didn’t get the penalty soon afterwards.
Everton made a double change with Nathalie Bjorn and Galli making way for Poppy Pattinson and Izzy Christiansen just 10 minutes into the second period.
But Stanway’s low rocket went wide as City tried to reduce the goal difference deficit with United, and the City midfielder had a later effort blocked by Gabby George.
Khadija Shaw and Janine Beckie came on for White and Raso with 17 minutes to go with Everton looking unlikely to cause concern.
Toni Duggan and Kenza Dali came on for Claire Emslie and Hanna Bennison as Everton made more changes before City brought on Laura Coombs for Stanway.
Lucy Graham’s tame shot at the end was easily stopped by Ellie Roebuck before Alex Greenwood stabbed home City’s third after Beckie and Lauren Hemp combined to put Caroline Weir’s corner back across the area.
It was her first goal of the season and it was game over moments later when Shaw unselfishly squared the ball for fellow sub Coombs to score from the edge of the area.
MATCH STATS – Manchester City Women 4, Everton Women 0
Man City Women: Roebuck, Bronze, Kennedy, Greenwood, Stokes (Blakstad 86), Walsh, Stanway (Coombs 78), Weir, Raso (Beckie 73), White (Shaw 73), Hemp
Man City Women Subs not used: Keating, Angeldahl, Park, Mace
Goals: Magill og 25; White 32; Greenwood 84; Coombs 85
Everton: MacIver, Maier, Finnigan, George, Turner, Bjorn (Pattinson 56), Emslie (Duggan 77), Galli (Christiansen 56), Graham, Bennison (Dali 77), Magill
Everton Subs not used: Brosnan, Duggan, Gauvin, Clinton
Booking: Turner 88 (shirt pull on Lauren Hemp)
Referee: Scott Jackson