03:36
football, The FA Women's Super League
Goals from Lucy Graham, Izzy Christiansen and Simone Magill secured victory for Everton and deepened Aston Villa's relegation fears in the Women's Super League. Graham nodded in Christiansen's cross to give the Toffees a first-half advantage before her penalty was saved by Lisa Weiss. But Christiansen made it 2-0 with a spot-kick of her own before substitute Magill added the third, sentencing Villa to their fifth straight defeat despite Chloe Arthur's late consolation. In an uneventful opening half-hour, Everton saw plenty of the ball but were unable to find a way through the visitors' resolute back line. However, Villa suffered a setback when skipper Marisa Ewers was forced off through injury and the Toffees finally ground them down when Graham's 37th-minute header broke the deadlock. The Scotland international squandered a golden opportunity to make it 2-0 soon after half-time, with Weiss denying her from the spot after Hayley Raso's cross had been handled. At the other end, Villa teenager Freya Gregory - making her first WSL start - might have levelled when her drive was beaten away by Sandy MacIver. But Christiansen took over spot-kick duties when Everton were awarded a second penalty on the hour mark and she made no mistake, sending the Villa keeper the wrong way. Substitute Magill then had a shot tipped on to the post by Weiss before pouncing on Jill Scott's deflected effort to seal victory 12 minutes from time. Arthur headed in to reduce the deficit in the dying seconds, but Villa remain at the foot of the table.
2021-04-04
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