Dignified Sorensen praises opposition’s quality as Blues end year with defeat.
Brian Sorensen told his Everton Women side that they must lift their heads and realise that they are playing against quality opposition as the Toffees ended the year with defeat at home to Arsenal.
A goal-laden 240 seconds started when Katie McCabe fired the Gunners in front on 11 minutes only for the hosts to respond almost immediately through Honoka Hayashi.
But the Blues were not level for long as Alessia Russo restored her team’s advantage from close range before second half substitute Olivia Smith made the game safe for Renée Slegers’ side who move up to second place in the WSL with victory.
And a dignified Sorensen took a pragmatic approach to the game in his praise for the opposition.
“I don’t think the girls tried everything they could, but the way Arsenal started the game – that’s an extremely good team,” he said.
“They started so fast, we tried to do a bit of what we did against Chelsea and ride the storm but they got into some really good positions.
“But we also knew that if we could stay in the game, which we did with Hono’s equaliser then we are still in the game.
“Second half we tried to push on and in some moments, could we could have done a bit better? Yes. But as I have said to the girls, some days you just have to lift your heads as you are playing against a very good team.”
An unchanged starting XI from the side that upset champions Chelsea found themselves under the cosh early at Goodison, but Ruby Mace continued to defy her detractors with a display far beyond her years, first blocking Mariona Caldentey’s whipped cross before closing down Caitlin Foord as the Gunners piled on the pressure.
The former Leicester star could do little for Arsenal’s opener, though, as her clearance from a Russo delivery fell to McCabe, who broke the deadlock with a thunderous long-range effort just after ten minutes.
Everton reused to let their heads drop and were level almost immediately through Hayashi. Vignola found the Japan star and the edge of the area and the 27-year-old scored her second goal in as many games with a precise strike to beat Anneke Borbe at her far post.
And with the game level, the Blues’ vulnerability was punished in somewhat fortuitous fashion as Russo’s unwitting finish crossed the line despite Courtney Brosnan’s best efforts, as the visitors restored their lead.
The Toffees battled to the last, but had their keeper to thank for keeping them in the game with a string of strong saves, one in particular denying Russo from close range as frenetic first half ended with Arsenal just one goal in front.
Into the second 45 and, with the Gunners on top, Sorensen rang the changes just before the hour mark with Karen Holmgaard, Katja Snoeijs and Rosa van Gool replacing Kelly Gago, Clare Wheeler and Yuka Momiki.
But it did little to alter the game’s flow and Smith ensured that there would be no fightback on 87 minutes when she unleashed a clinical 25-yard volley to settle matters.
Toni Payne looked a threat in periods but this was not Everton’s day and while Sorensen was both fair and magnanimous in his praise of Slegers’ team, the fact his side have failed to take a single point at home in the league this season is both a cause for concern and an issue that needs addressing ASAP.
The Blues can enjoy a Christmas break now but 2026 won’t start easy for them with a trip to WSL leaders Manchester City on Sunday, 11 January.
Category: General Sports
