Mouchon secures point for Leicester against Everton

Leicester avoided defeat after going 1-0 down for only the third time in 18 matches

Noemie Mouchon came off the bench to score a late equaliser as Leicester and Everton shared the points with a 1-1 draw at King Power Stadium.

Ornella Vignola's fourth goal of the season looked to have secured the three points for Brian Sorensen's Everton, who were seeking to end a four-match winless streak in all competitions.

However, Mouchon fired home in the 81st minute to rescue a point for her side with her first goal since suffering a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in October 2024.

Aston Villa's victory over West Ham means the two sides - level on four points - slip down a place in the Women's Super League (WSL) table, with Everton eighth and Leicester ninth.

The hosts were the brighter side during a goalless opening 45 minutes, with Hannah Cain and Emily van Egmond linking up smartly in attack, but it was Everton who came closest to taking the lead, Katie Robinson bringing a sharp save out of Janina Leitzig on the stroke of half-time after finding space on the right wing.

Vignola put Everton ahead six minutes after the break, holding off challenges from Asmita Ale and Chantelle Swaby before guiding her left-footed shot past Leitzig.

But Leicester continued to press for an equaliser before Mouchon struck with almost her first touch of the match, driving down the right wing and firing past Emily Ramsey at the near post with her right foot.

Analysis: Leicester show fight but goal struggles persist for both sides

Ornella Vignola (centre) has scored four goals in five appearances since signing from Granada in July

Leicester hearts would have sunk when Vignola scored the opening goal for Everton early in the second half.

It was the 18th time the Foxes had gone 1-0 down in a WSL match since the start of last season, with Rick Passmoor's side going on to lose on 15 occasions.

This time, their heads did not drop after going behind and interim boss Passmoor should be applauded for his substitutions, with Shannon O'Brien at the heart of Leicester's best moves following her introduction in the 62nd minute and Mouchon making an immediate impact.

But while both sides got on the scoresheet and had losing streaks come to an end - Everton had not won since the opening game of the season while Leicester suffered back-to-back league defeats against Chelsea and Tottenham - their respective performances in front of goal remain a cause for concern.

Leicester have only scored three goals in their first five league matches and did not register a shot on target until Mouchon's goal despite a number of positive moves from Cain and Van Egmond, and their high press putting Everton keeper Ramsey under pressure, particularly during the first half.

Vignola's goal, meanwhile, was only Everton's second in their past four league matches after their initial goalrush against Liverpool, and like Leicester they had a lengthy wait for a shot on target, coming after 43 minutes.

While Robinson was also a lively attacking threat against Leicester, Everton have been reliant on Spain youth international Vignola to provide the goals this season - she has scored four of their six league goals.

And with last season's top-scorers Kelly Gago (concussion) and Katja Snoeijs (hamstring) out injured and few other options presenting themselves, the goalscoring burden looks set to remain on Vignola's young shoulders in her debut WSL campaign.

What's next for these teams?

Leicester are next in WSL action on 12 October when they travel to Aston Villa (12:00 BST), while Everton host Manchester United at the same time.

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