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Wednesday October 7, 2009; Champions League Round of 32, 2nd Leg. Everton Ladies v. Roa IL (Norway) Everton: R.Brown, B.Easton (M.Hinnigan 54), R.Unitt, F.Williams, F.Whelan, L.Johnson, J.Handley (G.Harries 75), J.Scott (B.Chaplen 89), N.Dowie, E.Westwood, T.Duggan. Roa IL: C.Knutsen, S.Nordby, R.Sauerbrunn, M.Johansen (H.Gardsjord 62), M.Kristensen, G.Knutsen, K.Edner, C.Huse, M.Knutsen, E.Thorsnes (S.Andreasson 86), E.Haavi (A.Finskud 70). Everton Ladies were facing a mammoth task to progress into the last sixteen of the inaugural Womens' Champions League as they trailed the Norwegian champions, Roa IL, 3-0 from the first leg. Playing on their home ground Everton would have been hoping for a storming start but the opening exchanges saw both sides betraying nerves and the passing was sloppy. One misplaced pass by Marthe Johansen did allow the home side an early opportunity, however, and Natasha Dowie drove forward to test Caroline Knutsen with a firm low shot but the keepers' handling was sound. Toni Duggan also sent a hopeful effort over the bar from distance before Everton suddenly grabbed the early goal they craved in the eighth minute. Rachel Unitt started the move after making a fine interception as Roa looked to spring an attack of their own. Chesting the ball down perfectly Unitt then picked out Dowie with a good ball down the inside left channel. Dowie held the play up well before slipping the ball back to Fara Williams who produced a killer pass to send Emily Westwood clear of the defence. Just inside the box and to the right of goal Westwood finished expertly with a low drive into the far corner. This goal gave the home side increased belief and their football improved as they pressed the Norwegians back for a prolonged spell. Dowie saw a dipping thirty yarder tipped over before the Roa goal enjoyed an incredibly charmed life during an intense two minute spell of pressure. Jody Handley created the initial danger as she forced her way to the byeline down the right and a goal seemed inevitable as Toni Duggan and Williams converged on her low centre. Knutsen managed to block from both Duggan and Williams, however, before Williams sent the second rebound against the base of the post from only a yard out. On this occasion the proximity to goal actually became a problem for the attackers as Knutsen spread herself bravely to shut out the space. Moments later Unitt was picking out Dowie inside the box with another probing pass and the striker was desperately unlucky to hit the outside of the post with her instant shot on the turn. With Everton pressing forward constantly the break looked on for the visitors but their distribution continued to be erratic and little came from these opportunities. Lindsay Johnson had to mop up dangerous situations twice in quick succession and Rachel Brown was also sweeping up effectively when the need arose. Brown saw more serious action when a slick move between Elise Thorsnes and Marie Knutsen had Emilie Haavi running through on goal but the keeper was out quickly to smother at the forwards' feet. The game was becoming more even as the half progressed and it became harder for Everton to get players in support of Dowie who was doing an excellent job as the lone striker. Dowie showed great strength and control to protect a long pass forward before finding Duggan moving up in support. Duggan then sent a good cross to the far post, Jill Scott got up to head back across goal but Handley was unable to make contact as she lunged in at point blank range. Fara Williams then forced another good save from Knutsen as she tried her luck from distance. Initially Williams tried to find a colleague but when her intended pass dropped back into her stride she sent in an instant volley that was dropping beneath the bar only for Knutsen to tip over at full stretch. Roa were beginning to look more of a threat themselves, however, and it needed a timely toe from Scott to deny Kristine Edner at the end of a good move before Thorsnes wasted a promising situation after Fern Whelan had mis-read the bounce of a through ball. Dowie's outstanding hold up play allowed Everton to mount another attack which saw Duggan challenging the keeper for Handley's cross. The ball lobbed goalwards but dropped the wrong side of the post as far as Everton were concerned. Tempers began to fray as half time approached. Whelan and the Everton bench were particularly angry about an alleged elbow but the Czech Republic referee saw nothing amiss, which was not unusual, and half time came with the tie still in the balance and at just the right time for everyone to calm down and have a bit of a breather. Half Time: Everton Ladies 1 Roa IL 0 There was almost a sensational start to the second half as Everton were awarded a free kick fully thirty yards out in a central position. As ever distance was no deterrant to Fara Williams who stepped forward to smash a fierce drive goalwards. Knutsen appeared to get something on it before the ball rebounded from the bar but the onrushing Dowie could only head over the bar as the ball flew at her at close quarters. Roa then had a fine chance to kill the tie as Haavi played Guro Knutsen in on goal but her finish was weak and didn't test Brown. Everton were able to build up another head of steam as Dowie continued to lead the line with power and purpose while Toni Duggan began to be an increasing menace with some pacy running on the left hand side. Dowie supplied Williams with a shooting chance but Knutsen's handling was again secure before Dowie was left frustrated as a good centre in from Duggan had the Norwegian defence in trouble only for the ball to refuse to come down in time for her to get a clean shot away. An injury to Becky Easton forced Everton into a reshuffle as Michelle Hinnigan came on to take over the attacking midfield role with Westwood dropping back into the right back position. Roa almost took immediate advantage of this alteration as Thorsnes and Haavi combined to supply Marie Knutsen with a chance at the far post but her shot was scuffed and missed the target with something to spare. The Everton attack was now purring, however, and the tie was really back in the melting pot as they scored again just short of the hour mark to reduce the overall lead to just one. Williams and Unitt produced a neat interchange down the left before Duggan slipped a nice pass into Hinnigan, drifting into the box on the left hand side. The substitute took one touch before drilling an emphatic left footed finish low into the far corner. With Everton now playing somewhere near the top of their game you sensed they were about the turn this tie around completely and they continued to hammer away at the Roa goal. Dowie did superbly to hold off her marker and force her way to the dead ball line but Duggan was unable to reach her centre and then Duggan fired too close to Knutsen after cutting inside from the left wing. Handley and Hinnigan orchestrated the next Everton attack and there looked to be real danger as Dowie once again turned her marker to free her way to the byeline. Dowie could only slam the ball straight at Knutsen, guarding her near post, when the ball needed pulling back across goal, however. Rachel Unitt continued to use the ball well when she got forward and found Duggan who produced a smart turn of her own only to see her strong shot well blocked by a lunging defender. The Roa defence was finding it impossible to hold Dowie and it was hard to believe that the Everton striker would not cap her outstanding performance with the goal her side so desperately needed. With just over ten minutes remaining it seemed as though the moment had arrived as Dowie once again turned away from her marker expertly from Duggan's centre but her shot flashed wide of the far post rather than bulging the netting as had seemed certain. This moment would mark the end of Everton's barrage as they struggled to mount real pressure as the minutes ticked down. Instead Roa began to have opportunities as Everton left increasingly large holes in their defence. Ada Finskud volleyed a good chance over and Brown had to block from the same player after a tired Westwood was caught out following a ball over the top. Everton claimed optimistically for a penalty before forcing one last chance to take the game into extra time. Gwennan Harries, on as a substitute, speared a wonderful ball forward towards Dowie from the right back position and when it dropped Williams went for glory with a left footer but the ball bounced wide of Knutsen's left hand post and a relieved Roa were through. It was sad to see the entire Everton back four sink to their knees as one at the final whistle and they were no doubt joined in such desolation by the rest of their team-mates. When you've just been knocked out of Europe it is probably even more galling that it should come after such an outstanding performance. When they reflect back on the game later, however, they should take an enormous amount of satisfaction in producing such a display. Credit should also go to Roa who had dominated the first leg in a similar manner and who never looked outclassed here in the face of a top class Everton showing. I think extra time would have been the most fitting outcome, and I for one would have welcomed thirty more minutes of the same, but if that had transpired there is no guarantee that it would have signalled an overall Everton victory. Full Time: Everton Ladies 2 Roa IL 0 Star Player: Natasha Dowie Dowie was outstanding up front for Everton with her control and sharp turning the highlight of an excellent game. Taking on both centre halves by herself she was never properly subdued and came close to giving the perfect centre forwards' display.
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