Vignola Double Seals Victory For Blues

Two outstanding goals from Ornella Vignola guided Everton to a comfortable win in the Subway Players Cup, as the Blues beat Newcastle United 2-0.

After a goalless first half, Vignola came to the rescue for Everton with a long-range effort and curling strike being the difference at Goodison Park.

Everton now have consecutive wins in the cup after beating Birmingham City in their opening group stage game.

Scott Phelan made nine changes to the team that faced London City Lionesses on Sunday, with Rion Ishikawa and Vignola being the two to keep their place in the starting XI.

Noemie Mouchon and Jutta Rantala both made their long-awaited starts for the Club after the duo signed from Leicester City over the summer. 

In between the sticks, Canada’s Rylee Foster-Inman replaced Courtney Brosnan, making her second consecutive appearance in the Cup. 

Club captain, Megan Finnigan, returned to the pitch after missing Sunday’s clash in the capital, and was partnered alongside Hannah Silcock.

After impressing from the bench in the last game, Aurora Galli started as well as Hannah Cain, who earned her spot in the lineup following her magnificent goal on the weekend.

The Blues threatened early on down the left-hand side, and it was Cain who had the first opportunity of the match. Her effort whistled past the far post after she was picked out superbly by Silcock’s lofted, long-ball.

15 minutes into the first half, Everton were denied the lead after Mouchon’s first-time finish was ruled offside. The France-youth international was first to the rebound after Silcock tested Anna Tamminen from close range.

Shortly after, Mouchon continued to cause problems for the Lasses, as she held up the ball in the center of the box and played a short pass to Cain, who struck the post with a side-footed effort.  

Scott Phelan was able to talk to his players 28 minutes into the game after Newcastle’s Leanne Kiernan suffered a knock, and the pressure continued to pile on the away side for the remainder of the first 45 minutes.

Minutes before the end of the first half, Tamminen was yet again called upon as she parried away Vignola’s long-range strike.

The first half drew to a close, with the Toffees looking to break the deadlock in the second 45 minutes.

Newcastle were forced to substitute Tamminen for Kayla Rendell after the break, whilst Blues keeper, Foster-Inman, did not have to make a save until 52 minutes. 

Whilst Newcastle began to counter-attack effectively, The Blues were still creating the more clear-cut chances.

Cain was again at the forefront of Everton attacks, and her whipped cross found Galli on the edge of the box, but her effort blazed over the crossbar on the hour mark. 

With the game still goalless, Phelan looked to the bench for reinforcements and brought on Clare Wheeler, Maz Pacheco, and Yuka Momiki.

But it was Vignola who took the lead for the Blues. Her fantastic long-range effort from outside the box rifling into the top-right corner, leaving Kayla Rendell rooted to the spot.

With 10 minutes to go, the Spain international added a second after Wheeler’s cut-back cross found Everton's number 18 unmarked.

Her tidy finish into the bottom right-hand corner eliminated any chance of a nervy end to proceedings, as Everton continued to pass the ball around nicely for the remainder of the game.

Following six minutes of stoppage time, the final whistle sounded to confirm an impressive second-half display from Everton.

After two consecutive wins in the Player Cup, and five on home soil in all competitions, the Blues will now have their eye on automatic qualification for the next round.

Phelan's side return to the Grand Old Lady on Sunday afternoon (2pm) as Aston Villa make the journey from the second city.

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