Crystal Palace and Everton are among the sides fighting to avoid relegation in the Women's Super League
Everton came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace in the Women's Super League.
The hosts took the lead after 29 seconds at Gander Green Lane when Indiah-Paige Riley converted from close range after good pressing from My Cato.
Brian Sorensen's visitors levelled 20 minutes from time, Honoka Hayashi heading in Veatriki Sarri’s cross for Everton's first WSL goal this season scored by one of their own players.
The result initially moved Everton off the bottom of the WSL table, but Aston Villa's goalless draw with Manchester United later on Sunday meant the Toffees end the day back at the foot of the table.
Crystal Palace started Sunday’s meeting with one of the other sides hoping to avoid relegation this season looking to win a WSL home match for the first time this season.
It took less than a minute to take the lead against fellow strugglers Everton. Facing her own goal, Toffees forward Katja Snoeijs was dispossessed by Cato, who squared the ball to the unmarked Riley for the New Zealand international to score.
Everton responded almost immediately through Hayashi, with her deflected effort from range hitting the crossbar.
Visitors Everton, whose only WSL goal this season was an own goal against West Ham, levelled with their first shot on target. Hayashi, Everton’s most threatening player in the match, was picked out by Sarri's cross and guided her header past Palace goalkeeper Shae Yanez.
That equaliser, after a largely abject display, opened up the game with both sides chasing an important win.
Everton substitute Melissa Lawley forced a good save out of Yanez shortly after coming on, before Palace substitute Mille Gejl missed a chance to seal victory, her late strike stopped excellently by goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan.
A draw for Palace means they miss the chance to pull five points clear of Everton, who are still without a WSL win this season.
Everton draw can spark life into slow season
Everton are now more than a quarter of the way into their WSL campaign and are yet to win a match, but Hayashi's header to earn an important point has the potential to kick-start a sluggish season.
Three of their next four WSL matches are on home soil, and while title-chasing Manchester City will provide a tough test, next weekend's Merseyside derby against Liverpool, and Aston Villa after the Christmas break, are big chances to find that first league win.
It took 612 minutes, but a first league goal of the season scored by one of their own players came at a crucial time, stopping Palace taking a healthy lead over the sides at the foot of the table.
A winless start is cause for concern, but the fact that five sides have only won one or fewer matches this season will give Everton hope.
Palace, on five points after seven matches, have started their maiden campaign well, but will be frustrated by how they let a first home WSL win disappear from their grasp.
Next up for the Eagles are back-to-back trips at fellow strugglers Aston Villa and West Ham - big chances to take much-needed points in their fight for survival.
In each of the previous five full WSL campaigns, 13 points has been enough to guarantee survival. A good return from their next two games could take them close to that tally before the Christmas break.
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