Izzy Christiansen’s first goal for Everton was enough to defeat Tottenham Hotspur and maintain the Blues' 100 per cent start in the 2020/21 Barclays FA Women’s Super League.
With nothing separating the two sides at the break, a tactical substitution sparked life into the Blues as Nicoline Sorensen came off the bench to tee-up Christiansen’s match-winning header in the 51st minute.
The result sees Everton stay second, level on points with leaders Arsenal and two clear of Chelsea - who they face next in two weeks' time in their long-awaited FA Women’s Cup quarter-final clash.
Willie Kirk made two changes to the side that romped to an emphatic 4-0 win at Bristol City on the opening weekend of the league last time out.
Claire Emslie and Abbey-Leigh Stringer came in for Sorensen and Maeva Clemaron while Damaris Egurrola featured on the bench for the first time following her summer move to England.
Everton were straight out of the traps at a sun-soaked Walton Hall Park, with Hayley Raso drawing two stops from Rebecca Spencer in the opening 10 minutes.
However, that was about as good as it got in the first 40 minutes for the Toffees as Spurs grew into the contest before Josie Green tested Sandy MacIver with a rasping drive from 25 yards.
MacIver saw it late as the ball whistled through a crowd of bodies, but did well to get a strong hand to it and turn it behind for a corner.
Everton broke the deadlock from the resultant cross and set about inflicting some damage of their own, however, skipper Lucy Graham was left with her head in her hands as she blazed over from 10 yards.
Kirk shook things up at the break, introducing Sorensen for Emslie, and with just five minutes played in the second period Everton got their noses in front.
Sorensen was the orchestrator, lifting in an inviting cross from the left for Christiansen to nod home and put the Blues on course for a second-straight league win.
A host of substitutions gave the final quarter a fresh look, but MacIver remained unchallenged between the Everton sticks as the Blues sat in and looked to catch Spurs on the break.
It was a tactic Kirk’s side nailed and they comfortably saw out the closing stages to maintain their unbeaten start to the new season.
Everton’s attention will now shift to their 2019/20 Women’s FA Cup quarter-final clash with Chelsea on Sunday 26 September, kick-off 1pm, with the victor facing a trip to either Brighton & Hove Albion or Birmingham City.
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