Emily Ramsey saved two spot-kicks to help Everton win 4-2 on penalties and secure a bonus point in the opening game of the Blues' Continental League Cup campaign against Aston Villa.
Aggie Beever-Jones netted her first goal for the Club to pull Everton level at Walton Hall Park, after Natasha Harding opened the scoring for the visitors.
Ramsey then saved penalties from Anna Patten and Laura Blinkilde-Brown in the shootout before Nathalie Björn stepped up to score the decisive spot-kick.
Brian Sorensen made eight changes to the side that secured a league victory away at Aston Villa on Saturday but that didn’t seem to disrupt any rhythm in the opening exchanges as Everton knocked the ball around confidently on home soil.
Despite the bright start, however, it was the visitors who had the first real opportunity of the game when former Blue Kenza Dali went through on goal - but goalkeeper Ramsey did well to tip her low drive, which was destined for the bottom corner, around the post and out for a corner.
From then on, the visitors began to control proceedings and the Toffees had Ramsey to thank once again when she first denied Villa captain Rachel Corsie before saving a thunderous strike from another former Everton player, Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah, moments later.
With just under half an hour played, the Blues created their first clear opportunity as Elise Stenevik got past the Villa defender but the left wing-back sent her effort wide of the target.
At the other end, the visitors were once again denied by Ramsey. The Blues keeper brilliantly tipped Corsie’s close-range effort over the bar to keep her side on level terms going into the break.
Everton suffered a blow just minutes after the restart when Harding slotted past Ramsey to give Villa a 1-0 lead.
Sorensen made a double substitution on the hour mark, with Björn and Jess Park entering the action - and that double change made an instant impact.
Villa were caught in possession deep in their own half following pressure from Aurora Galli and substitute Park picked up the ball before putting Beever-Jones through on goal with an inch-perfect pass.
The striker showed composure to round the goalkeeper and pass the ball into the empty net to score her maiden goal in Everton colours to restore parity.
Park was involved once again as she raced down the right and picked out Galli on the edge of the box. The Italian took one touch to beat the on-rushing defender before firing a fierce effort inches over the bar.
The introduction of Park continued to cause Villa problems and the winger went close on two occasions with Everton looking the team most likely to find a winner in the closing stages.
Despite late pressure, the Blues couldn’t find a winner and the side to secure a bonus point would be decided on penalties.
Lucy Graham, Stenevik and Hanna Bennison all netted from 12-yards to put Everton in control of the shootout, with Ramsey denying Patten and Blinkilde-Brown to give Björn the opportunity to win it for the Blues.
The Swedish international made no mistake, firing into the top corner from 12 yards to secure the shootout win and a bonus point.
Everton are back in action this weekend with Manchester United the visitors to Walton Hall Park on Sunday for a crucial clash in the Barclays Women Super League.
