Everton 1-1 Nottingham Forest [4-3 on pens]: Emily Ramsey’s penalty heroics keep Everton alive in the Subway League Cup

Two great saves from Emily Ramsey saw Everton secure three points in Group A of the Women’s League Cup after a penalty shoot-out victory.

Kelly Gago levelled the scoreline for The Toffees minutes after Aimee Claypole converted a penalty that handed Forest the lead.

As it happened

Everton welcomed WSL 2 outfit Nottingham Forest to Goodison Park on Sunday in their second Group A encounter of the Subway League Cup. The Toffees opened their cup campaign with a loss away to Manchester City and Brian Sørensen’s side needed a win to boost their confidence. Meanwhile, Nottingham Forrest won 2-1 against Newcastle United in their opening fixture.

The hosts, in their quest for their first win at home this season, produced a dominant first half, flirting with the goal as French international Kelly Gago pounced upon a bouncing ball inside the area and managed to direct her strike at goal. However, Forest goalkeeper Emily Batty did well to deny her using her feet, denying an early lead for Everton.

As the half hour mark passed, Katie Robinson came close for The Blues as her effort was fired over the bar after a low cross from Gago.

With half time approaching, Everton kept pushing as Gago tried her luck. After a scramble inside the area, it fell to the French forward, who failed to adjust in time and arrowed an effort just a few inches wide, leaving it level at the break.

Despite Everton’s dominance, it was Nottingham Forest who took the lead at Goodison Park after Aimee Claypole converted a penalty into the bottom right corner.

Three minutes later, Gago instantly replied after finding herself alone with only with the keeper to beat. She had initially capitalised on a sloppy back pass from defender Ebba Hed.

In the closing stages of the game, the hosts did their best to try and avoid a penalty shoot-out. Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah tested Ramsey but the Forest goalkeeper did excellently to deny her at the far-post, diving down to palm her headed effort away.

The penalty shoot-out saw Forest starting off well with Claypole netting it again into the bottom right corner before Charlie Welling and Boye-Hlorkah were denied by a wonderful goalkeeping from Ramsey, who read their movements and intentions.

Gago, Elise Stenevik and Clare Wheeler securely netted for the hosts, before Kenzie Weir sent her effort wide of the crossbar leaving some hope for the visitors. However, Maz Pacheco won the shoot-out for Everton to keep their hopes alive in their Subway League Cup quest.

The lineups

EVE: Ramsey (GK); Fernandez, Hayashi, Wheeler (C), Van Gool, Gago, Kitagawa, Robinson, Stenevik, Momiki, Pacheco

NFO: Batty (GK); Stapleton, Mustaki, Rodgers, Claypole, Hed, Green (C), Thomas, Garcia Perez, Smith, Boye-Hlorkah