Kiko Seike scored a superb hat-trick on her Brighton debut
Kiko Seike scored a hat-trick on her Women's Super League debut as Brighton thrashed Everton in their opening game of the campaign.
The Japan international struck after 29 minutes, nicking the ball off Elise Stenevik and launching a long-range lob into the top corner.
Seike was in acres of space for her second goal 11 minutes into the second half, stooping to direct a header on target from Poppy Pattinson's cross.
Everton then conceded a 68th-minute penalty when Maria Thorisdottir's shot from the edge of the box struck the arm of defender Sara Holmgaard.
Fran Kirby also marked her Brighton debut with a goal, slotting into the bottom corner from the penalty spot with goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan going the other way.
Seike completed her hat-trick seven minutes later, driving through the Everton defence and firing a wicked strike past Brosnan, who was powerless to stop it despite her best efforts.
"It’s that old cliché of one game at a time but you still have to enjoy those wins," said boss Dario Vidosic after an impressive showing in his first WSL game in charge.
"The message was simple. Just be brave, play our football.
"Football is a funny sport. You can be the best team and lose so we were always more focused on just having a positive performance. When you do that, you get rewards and the ladies got that today. I’m really pleased for them."
Everton's afternoon went from bad to worse when they played the closing stages with 10 players as, having used all their substitutes, their Italian midfielder Aurora Galli went down clutching her knee and was taken off in the 87th minute.
After the game boss Brian Sorensen said: "She’s on crutches. It looked like one of the bad ones unfortunately. I think it just sums up the day.
"It’s probably too early to go to hospital for a scan because of the swelling so they won’t be able to see anything. But yeah, it doesn’t look good, that’s for sure."
Superb Seike revels in spotlight to make history
Kiko Seike poses with the match ball after her brilliant performance
England internationals Kirby and Nikita Parris would have been considered the standout signings among the many that Brighton made over the summer.
However, it was Seike who took centre stage as she became the first player in WSL history to score a hat-trick on her debut in the competition.
The 28-year-old joined Brighton from Japanese side Urawa Reds, where she scored 20 goals last season.
Seike got off to a flying start with two brilliant strikes for her first and third goals, creating half of Brighton's six chances.
Her header for the second goal showed wonderful composure in the box and an impressive all-round performance helped the hosts to a commanding victory.
Brighton's new boss Dario Vidosic could not have hoped for a better start in his first game in charge with his side dominating possession and clinical with their opportunities.
Everton had no answers and suffered a record-extending eighth opening-day defeat in the WSL era.
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