Everton 3-2 Leicester: Anna Anvegard inspires Toffees to crucial win over struggling Leicester

2 years ago 18

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By Harry De CosemoBBC Sport

Last updated on Less than a minute ago.From the section Women's Football

Anna Anvegard's double helped Everton to victory over Leicester City in an entertaining bottom of the table WSL clash at Walton Hall Park.

Jemma Purfield opened the scoring early before Everton's Toni Duggan equalised.

Anvegard struck in each half to twice put the Toffees in front, sandwiching Sam Tierney's goal for Leicester, which levelled the scores before the break.

Everton leapfrog Aston Villa into ninth, while Leicester remain 11th in the table.

Leicester took the lead after five minutes through Purfield's well-placed shot from the edge of the area. Sandy MacIver got a hand to it, but couldn't keep it out.

Just past the half-hour mark, Everton were level. The pressure paid off when Ashleigh Plumptre was robbed of possession, leaving Duggan to round Sophie Harris in the Leicester goal.

Five minutes before half-time, the Foxes were caught again, and this time it was Anvegard who pounced and finished emphatically.

With the break looming, the game had reached a frenetic pace. Parity was restored when Tierney headed home Purfield's free-kick, before Izzy Christiansen almost scored again for Everton only to be denied brilliantly by Harris.

Anvegard grabbed her second of the game after 52 minutes. Hannah Bennison's cross was deflected into her path and the Sweden forward showed great awareness to flick it into the net.

MacIver made a fine save from Natasha Flint before Purfield forced her into action from a long-range free-kick, but Everton held on for a third straight win in all competitions.

Line-ups

Everton Women

Formation 4-2-3-1

1MacIver
3Turner
20Finnigan
6GeorgeBooked at 76mins
30PattinsonSubstituted forBjörnat 88'minutes
8Christiansen
22Galli
19Anvegård
7DaliSubstituted forGrahamat 77'minutes
28Bennison
9DugganSubstituted forEmslieat 85'minutes

Substitutes

5Björn
10Magill
11Emslie
13Gauvin
17Graham
18Brosnan
21Maier
26Clinton
31Weir

Leicester City Women

Formation 5-4-1

48Harris
14de Graaf
15Howard
5McManus
22Plumptre
23Purfield
27O'Brien
3Tierney
8Pike
16GregorySubstituted forBroughamat 84'minutes
7Flint

Substitutes

6Brougham
10Devlin
11Bastock
17Bailey-Gayle
18Barker
19Goodwin
24Boddy
39Middleton-Patel
40Robinson

Live Text

Match ends, Everton Women 3, Leicester City Women 2.
Second Half ends, Everton Women 3, Leicester City Women 2.
Sandy MacIver (Everton Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Sophie Howard (Leicester City Women).
Corner, Everton Women. Conceded by Jemma Purfield.
Attempt missed. Anna Anvegård (Everton Women) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top right corner.
Aurora Galli (Everton Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Sam Tierney (Leicester City Women).
Attempt blocked. Natasha Flint (Leicester City Women) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Abbie McManus.
Substitution, Everton Women. Nathalie Björn replaces Poppy Pattinson.
Attempt missed. Molly Pike (Leicester City Women) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high.
Substitution, Everton Women. Claire Emslie replaces Toni Duggan.
Substitution, Leicester City Women. Georgia Brougham replaces Freya Gregory.
Attempt saved. Ashleigh Plumptre (Leicester City Women) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Jemma Purfield.
Attempt saved. Natasha Flint (Leicester City Women) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Sam Tierney.
Attempt saved. Natasha Flint (Leicester City Women) left footed shot from more than 35 yards is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Sam Tierney.
Attempt missed. Molly Pike (Leicester City Women) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Natasha Flint.
Corner, Leicester City Women. Conceded by Sandy MacIver.
Attempt saved. Jemma Purfield (Leicester City Women) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Substitution, Everton Women. Lucy Graham replaces Kenza Dali.