Everton 2-2 Bristol City: Thestrup nets late equaliser to salvage point

Amalie Thestrup’s late goal secured Bristol City a 2-2 draw away to fellow strugglers Everton in the Barclays Women’s Super League on Sunday.

Thestrup struck eight minutes from time to snatch a point for Lauren Smith’s side, who twice had to come from behind at Walton Hall Park.

Captain Megan Finnigan’s second-half strike had looked to have secured victory for Everton after Amy Rodgers had cancelled out Martina Piemonte’s first WSL goal on the stroke of half-time.

The result leaves both sides firmly in danger at the bottom of the table, with Everton still searching for their first home league win of the campaign and Bristol City having taken only four points from their first seven games.

In a battle of two sides low on confidence, it was Everton who started much the better, and they went ahead after only five minutes.

Katrine Veje escaped down the left to cross for Piemonte, who forced the ball home at the second attempt after Olivia Clark had saved her initial effort.

That was Everton’s first goal from open play in the WSL this season, and meant Bristol City have now gone 17 games without a league clean sheet.

Piemonte was nearly in for a second goal when beating Clark to a loose back pass after 13 minutes, but was eventually crowded out after being forced wide.

Clark was then required to keep out Nicoline Sorensen’s low effort with her feet as Everton continued to push, with the visitors struggling to find a foothold in the game.

Smith’s side, however, did improve as the opening period wore on.

Captain Megan Connolly skimmed the top of the bar with an inswinging corner, Naomi Layzell had a header cleared off the line and, after Everton had gone close to extending their lead through Aurora Galli’s 25-yard piledriver, which was deflected just wide, Bristol City levelled in first-half stoppage time.

It stemmed from an Everton error, with Sara Holmgaard losing the ball on the edge of her own box, allowing Abi Harrison to tee up Rodgers, who rifled home from 15 yards.

After the break Piemonte snatched at a decent chance from Holmgaard’s cut-back, while Harrison sent an ambitious effort well off target from distance after another mistake in the home defence.

Everton regained the lead after 58 minutes, Finnigan firing home through a crowd of players after Clark had clawed away Sorensen’s cross and Justine Vanhaevermaet’s subsequent effort had struck the crossbar.

The home side might have extended their lead soon after, but Clark first saved bravely at the feet of Katja Snoeijs and then tipped Sorensen’s low effort behind.

Thestrup forced a save from Courtney Brosnan after a good run and cross from Ffion Morgan, who was then denied by the Everton goalkeeper after another powerful break down the right.

And Bristol City’s pressure paid off eight minutes from the end, with Layzell’s persistence and desire releasing former Liverpool striker Thestrup, who deftly flicked the ball past the advancing Brosnan with the outside of her right foot to make it 2-2 and leave the home fans stunned.

Substitute Toni Duggan had a chance to win it for Everton in stoppage time, but failed to connect with Heather Payne’s clipped ball over the top, as Brian Sorensen’s side endured more frustration on home soil.