Amalie Thestrup’s late strike gave bottom side Bristol City a draw against Everton in the Women’s Super League at Walton Hall Park.
Summer signing Thestrup rolled a deft finish into the net with goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan off her line to score the Robins’ second equaliser eight minutes from time, denying the Toffees a first home win of the campaign.
Megan Finnigan, who headed a clearance off the line during the first half, had lashed Everton ahead for a second time after the break.
Captain Finnigan fired decisively through a crowd of players after Justine Vanhaevermaet’s effort hit the crossbar following a corner.
Amy Rodgers’ thunderous first goal of the campaign in first-half added time had initially put the Robins on course to avoid a sixth defeat in seven top-flight games this season.
Scotland international Rodgers hammered a first-time strike past Brosnan after Everton summer signing Martina Piemonte had opened her WSL account in the fourth minute, scoring Everton’s first goal from open play of the campaign after goalkeeper Olivia Clark, deputising for the injured Kaylan Marckese, saved the striker’s initial close-range shot.
Megan Connolly rattled the woodwork from a corner before Rodgers drew City level in emphatic style.
Clark kept out Nicoline Sorensen’s shot with a fingertip save after the break, and Brosnan was called into action when Ffion Morgan broke clear and swept an effort at goal with 10 minutes remaining.
The result moved City level on points with West Ham United and put Everton above the Hammers in 10th.
Brian Sorensen’s side are next in action when they visit Villa in the WSL next Sunday, while City travel to Tottenham in the FA Cup on Wednesday.
Robins’ powers of recovery
City showed their tenacity to twice recover from falling behind and can take satisfaction from a much-needed positive result following their 2-0 home defeat by Villa a week earlier.
Lauren Smith’s side are now two games unbeaten on their travels, and their manager will have been impressed by the character her players showed to avoid a third consecutive loss in all competitions.
Rodgers and Thestrup’s goals both demonstrated a composed ruthlessness which will serve City well if they are to prevail in the tight lower half of the WSL, where only three points separated the bottom six teams at the start of play.
Smith’s concern will lie in a defensive record which has now extended to 16 games without a WSL clean sheet, stretching back to January 2021 and accounting for 41 goals conceded.
Their ability to score was helped by Brosnan’s questionable decision to advance so far off her line in an attempt to close down Thestrup, whose equaliser leaves Sorensen to reflect on a four-match winless run in the division.
Productive Piemonte’s opener was part of a confident start by Everton but the hosts came under increasing pressure as the first period went on and were indebted to the frame of Brosnan’s goal before Rodgers deservedly levelled.
Everton have developed a worrying tendency to leak late goals, conceding five during the final 15 minutes of games already this season – the most of any WSL team.
They have now shipped six goals after the 81st minute in their past five matches in all competitions, and will hope for no more late slip-ups when they head to two of their closest rivals next in Villa and West Ham.
