City held to frustrating Everton draw | OneFootball

Manchester City were held to a 1-1 draw by Everton at the Joie Stadium in the Barclays Women’s Super League.

Kerstin Casparij opened the scoring with a close-range effort inside 15 minutes, but Karen Holmgaard headed the visitors level after the half hour mark.

Neither side were able to gain a genuine foothold on proceedings, but City did go close through Kerolin Nicoli and Jess Park in particular.

But it was a frustrating day at the office on the whole for the Blues, who remain seven points off UEFA Women’s Champions League qualification with three matches left to play this term.

What happened

With Manchester United held to a goalless draw by West Ham on Saturday, City knew a win against the Toffees would cut the gap in the race for Europe to five points with three matches to play.

The Blues were further boosted by the return of Rebecca Knaak, making her first appearance for the Club since February after recovering from a hamstring injury.

City started the brighter of the two sides but would have to wait until after the tenth minute to really trouble the Everton defence.

First, Kerolin Nicoli cut the ball back to Jess Park, who’s effort was blocked by a visiting defender, before the Brazilian beat Emily Ramsey to a pass in behind only to be stopped in her tracks as she shaped to poke into an empty net.

But it wouldn’t take much longer for the opener to follow, when Casparij met Lily Murphy’s knockdown back across goal to prod home from close-range.

The Dutch international celebrated by holding up a Mary Fowler shirt, in tribute to the Australian who ruptured her Anterior Cruciate Ligament last week.

Momentum was building for City, with the lively Kerolin Nicoli seeing an effort deflect over the bar after a goalmouth scramble soon after.

But Everton were far from out of the contest and would draw themselves level just after the half hour mark.

A cross was hung up to the far post by left-back Holmgaard which, despite the best efforts of Khiara Keating and Leila Ouahabi, was met by her twin sister, Karen, with a bullet header.

City weren’t fazed by the setback though, with Park and Kerolin Nicoli both testing Ramsey soon after Everton’s equaliser.

A beautifully crafted team move followed as half-time approached, with Yui Hasegawa’s pass in behind releasing Casparij, with Lily Murphy inches from diverting the full-back’s cross into the net.

The second half was a little slower to get going, but City had strong claims for a penalty waved away when Kerolin Nicoli was seemingly caught inside the area after a typical darting run in behind.

But the game was certainly in the balance, with an almost carbon copy of Everton’s equaliser seeing Holmgaard this time head over the bar.

It was a cagey affair at the Joie Stadium, with a well-worked City move from a free-kick seeing Casparij head onto the roof of the net with 15 to play.

That sight of goal brought the Blues back to life, with Kerolin Nicoli forcing Ramsey to tip a vicious effort over the bar after skipping through two Everton challenges.

Park was next to go close, getting the ball onto her right foot and firing towards the bottom corner, but Ramsey was once again equal to the effort.

But it was to no avail, with City held to a point despite our best efforts.

What it means

City remain fourth in the WSL table with three matches of the season left to play.

We're seven points behind third-placed Manchester United, but still have to face our rivals at Old Trafford in the penultimate match of the campaign.

How we lined up

Nick Cushing made one change from last week’s FA Cup semi-final, with Rebecca Knaak making her first appearance since February.

With Mary Fowler sidelined with an ACL rupture, Kerolin Nicoli shifted to centre-forward to replace the Australian, with Jess Park moving to right wing.

Laia Aleixandri was then brought into midfield alongside Yui Hasegawa, meaning Knaak lined up with Gracie Prior in the heart of the City defence.

City XI: Keating, Casparij, Prior, Knaak (Layzell 62’), Ouahabi, Aleixandri (C), Hasegawa, Coombs, Park, Murphy (Wienroither 73’), Kerolin Nicoli.

Subs: Annets, Yamashita, Startup, Oyama, Thomas, Lewis, Davies.

Everton XI: Ramsey, Fernandez, Hayashi (Olesen 46’), Wheeler, Vanhaevermaet, Payne, S. Holmgaard, Snoeijs (Sarri 67’), Madsen (Lawley 59’), Stenevik, K. Holmgaard (Hobson 67’)

Subs: Brosnan, Ladd, Watson, Weir, Thomas

Up next

City are back in WSL action next Sunday against Leicester at the King Power Stadium, with kick-off set for 15:00 (UK).