Blues Earn Solid Point Against United

Everton played out a goalless draw with Manchester United at Goodison Park on Saturday evening.

The Blues threatened throughout, with Yuka Momiki and Ornella Vignola both seeing strikes palmed away. At the other end, heroics from Courtney Brosnan kept the Toffees in it as they earned a solid point against the Red Devils on Halloween.

Brosnan and Clare Wheeler were presented with commemorative framed shirts prior to kick-off to mark the duo surpassing a century of appearances in royal blue.

Brosnan donned the captain’s armband in between the sticks, with a backline of Hikaru Kitagawa, Rion Ishikawa, Naomi Layzell and Hannah Blundell in front of her.

Ruby Mace and Wheeler sat deep in midfield, allowing Rosa van Gool – who scored in midweek against Sheffield United – to roam further forward.

Maz Pacheco started on the unfamiliar left-wing, with Momiki lining the opposite flank. Vignola shifted over to a central position to lead the line.

It was the hosts who threatened first as Momiki drifted inside and let fly from the edge of the box. Her effort had sufficient power, but whistled wide of the near-post.

The resilient Blues continued to show real spirit and battled hard throughout the opening 45, with neither side able to make the breakthrough.

Scott Phelan’s side emerged from the tunnel with an urgency about them – Vignola firing an effort in to the chest of Le Tissier from the edge of the box immediately after play resumed.

United reacted, with Brosnan called in to action to deny Dominique Janssen on 75 minutes. The Netherlands-international latched on to former-Blue Jess Park’s threaded through ball. With her first-touch, Janssen looked to catch the keeper off-guard, but Ireland’s number one was well-prepared.

Noemie Mouchon, who also netted against the Blades on Wednesday, replaced Momiki with nine minutes remaining as Phelan looked to his bench for a late goal.

After three minutes of injury time, the referee concluded the goalless affair to mark a solid point for the Toffees on home soil.

The Blues travel to face Chelsea in the capital next up, making the journey on Saturday 7 November (12pm KO).