Brosnan keeps Manchester United out as Everton earn goalless WSL draw in Crosby

Everton finally took something off Manchester United on Saturday 31 October, holding Eva Olid’s side to a stalemate in the FA WSL. Scott Phelan’s team had lost each of the previous 5 meetings between the clubs. At Rossett Park, goalkeeper Brosnan made sure there was no repeat, and she finished with a rating of 8.08, the highest on the pitch.

Brosnan’s 4 saves frustrate Eva Olid’s side

United carried slightly more of the threat. They had 9 shots to Everton’s 6, put 4 on target to their hosts’ 3 and won 5 corners to 2. Their expected goals of 0.46 doubled Everton’s 0.23, though neither figure points to a game full of clear openings.

Brosnan dealt with everything that reached her. At the other end Tullis-Joyce made 3 saves and was rated 7.41, second only to her opposite number. Possession was almost level at 49% for Everton and 51% for United.

Everton’s back line also stood out. Layzell was rated 7.15, while Blundell and Ishikawa both earned 7.11, and Blundell supplied 1 key pass as well as a shot of her own.

Medina booked for dissent in stoppage time

Referee Adewunmi Soneye showed 3 yellow cards. Van Gool was the first into the book, cautioned for a foul in the 25th minute. Simi Awujo followed for United with a foul in the 69th minute.

Andrea Medina’s booking came late. She was cautioned for dissent in the second minute of stoppage time. Everton committed 14 fouls to United’s 8, and the visitors were caught offside twice to Everton’s once.

Elisabeth Terland led the line for United in a 4-2-3-1. Everton set up in a 4-1-4-1 with Ornella Vignola as the lone forward. Neither found a way through.

United 4 points off third, Everton 2 behind them

The point leaves Manchester United fourth on 12 points from 8 games, with a record of 3-3-2 and a goal difference of -2. They are 4 points adrift of London City Lionesses in third and 7 behind the joint leaders, Chelsea and Manchester City, who have 19 points each from 7 matches.

United are now unbeaten in 6 across all competitions, a run that includes a 1-1 draw with Manchester City, a 5-3 win over Liverpool and a 3-0 victory against Burnley last time out.

Everton are sixth with 10 points from 8 games, level with Tottenham Hotspur, who sit fifth having played once fewer. Phelan’s side came into this having beaten Sheffield United 2-1, and their recent results have alternated between wins and defeats, so a clean sheet against a side unbeaten in 5 before kick-off is a different kind of result for them.

Their next assignment is tougher still. Everton travel to Chelsea on Saturday 7 November to face the only side in the division with a perfect form line, a team that is 6-1-0 with a goal difference of 17.

Read also: Aston Villa hold off Everton comeback as Vangsgaard inspires 3-2 WSL win