Karl Vallantine was pitchside at Walton Hall Park to capture all the best of the action in a vital midweek WSL match (18/5/23).
Above: Caitlin Foord (centre), who hit two goals on her first start for Arsenal after injury. Photo: Karl Vallantine for Impetus.
Everton 1-4 Arsenal
Arsenal took a major step towards Champions League qualification with a commanding win at Everton.
Matildas star Caitlin Foord made her first start since returning from injury and made an immediate impact scoring two of the Gunners’ goals. However, this positive news was laced with another of Jonas Eidevall’s team suffering a serious injury as Lia Walti was caught by Aggie Beever-Jones and stretchered off with the Everton teenager receiving a red card as a consequence.
Foord’s brace was part of a flurry of four goals in a 13-minute spell. The former Sydney FC star struck her first when dispatching Noell Maritz’s pass into the bottom corner. Katie McCabe doubled the North London side’s lead five minutes later with a shot from distance.
Foord dispatched her second just six minutes later heading in after Toffees’ keeper Emily Ramsey produced a save from Stina Blackstenius’ effort. Lotte Wubben-Moy’s header completed Arsenal’s scoring three minutes before the break. Katja Snoeijs nodded home a consolidation for the hosts near the end.
Arsenal are now three points clear of Manchester City in third place – the final Champions League spot – but this weekend sees a major test as the top four face each other. Arsenal travel to Kingsmeadow to face leaders Chelsea, and there is a Manchester derby, both matches taking place on Sunday.
Karl Vallantine’s exclusive photo gallery for Impetus from Walton Hall Park:
Team: EVERTON (3-4-1-2): Ramsey, K. Holmgaard, Bjorn, S. Holmgaard, Sorensen, Wheeler, Galli, Veje, Bennison, Beever-Jones, Snoeijs. Substitutes used: Sevecke (for Galli 45′), Hope (for Veje 62′), Stenevik (for S. Holmgaard 63′), Finnigan (for Sorensen 73′), Christiansen (for K. Holmgaard 73′).
Scorer: Snoeijs 86′.
ARSENAL (3-4-2-1): Zinsberger, Wubben-Moy, Beattie, Carvalho Souza, Maritz, Maanum, Walti, McCabe, Pelova, Foord, Blackstenius. Substitutes used: Taylor (for Carvalho Souza 45′), Kuhl (for Walti 54′), Queiroz Costa (for Foord 67′), Catley (for McCabe 89′), Godfrey (for Blackstenius 90′).
Scorers: Foord 29′, 39′. McCabe 33′, Wubben-Moy 42′.
Referee: Cheryl Foster.
Attendance: 1,350.
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