Everton secured an impressive 2-1 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion at the AMEX Stadium on Friday night.

The Holmgaard twins combined superbly to give the Blues the lead on the hour mark, as Karen Holmgaard nodded in at the back-post after playing a delightful one-two with her sister.

Mikey Harris’ side found an equaliser three minutes later though, as Tatiana Pinto blasted the ball into the back of the net after a free-kick crashed against the upright and bounced into her path.

An own-goal courtesy of Guro Bergsvand saw the Blues’ lead restored on 72 minutes. Excellent pressure from Aurora Galli forced the Brighton defence into a number of errors that led to the midfielder rounding the ‘keeper. Sliding in, Bergsvand tried to clear the danger, but could only divert the ball into her own net.

Head coach Brian Sørensen made one change to the side that fell to defeat against Manchester United before the international break. Sara Holmgaard returned to the starting XI in place of the absent Heather Payne.

The Blues commenced the tie strongly and threatened inside 14 minutes. 25-yards from goal, Kathrine Kühl set her sights and released a venomous strike destined for the bottom right corner. Sophie Baggaley scrambled across the white chalk-line and managed to tip the ball around the post, though.

From the resulting corner, Lucy Hope towered above her marker at the back-post and sent a looping header goalward. The shot-stopper adjusted well and caught the ball to relieve her side of the early pressure.

The hosts responded and came close on 27 minutes. Elisabeth Terland latched on to a lofted through ball and attempted to lob the outrushing Courtney Brosnan. Despite losing her footing, the 28-year-old managed to palm away the audacious effort.

Only sixty seconds later, Katja Snoeijs was denied by Baggaley at the other end. Hope’s low cross was met by the Netherlands international, who fired a first-time effort against the ‘keeper.

After a goalless first-half, the Seagulls came out of the tunnel on the front foot and came close to taking the lead on 49 minutes. Maisie Symonds’ free-kick from the halfway line reached the far-post where Terland was waiting. The forward chested the ball down, but skewed a half-volley wide of the target.

The Toffees’ twins combined excellently to fire Everton in-front on the hour mark. Karen Holmgaard played it to Sara Holmgaard on the edge of the box. The Dane then waited for her sister to enter the box and crossed to the far-post, where Karen nodded in.

Brighton equalised three minutes later as Pinto blasted the ball into the roof of the net from point-blank range. Symond’s free-kick rattled the crossbar and fortunately landed at the feet of the midfielder, who prodded the ball into the back of the net.

Everton restored their lead in the 72^nd minute after capitalising on a catalogue of errors between the host’s backline. A sloppy backpass by Jorelyn Carabali was pounced upon by Galli, who rounded the ‘keeper before being faced with Bergsvand. In an attempt to clear the ball, the defender turned it home, rewarding the Italian for her pressure.

Up next for Sørensen’s side is a clash with Arsenal at Walton Hall Park on Sunday 28 April (12:30pm BST).

By Ross Hughes