The big news before kick off was the absence of captain Alexis Putellas and Mapi Leon, the former on the bench and the latter unable to make the squad. Danielle van de Donk took the armband in Putellas’s absence, with Elena Linari going at centre back.

London City started the brighter side, enjoying the lion’s share of possession as Everton could only find their luck through counter attacks. However the game started quiet and wouldn’t be filled with early shots.

Danielle van de Donk had the best early opportunity of the half, her shot being sent over the crossbar after a scramble in the box taking the ball towards the captain.

But the home side weren’t willing to give up. 24 minutes was all it took for Cascarino to give them an early lead, cut back calmly by van de Donk for the French winger to place perfectly in the bottom right corner.

From there the pressure was all on Everton as Eder Maestre’s side continued to dominate proceedings. The team from Merseyside struggled to create without the ball as Freya Godfrey nearly put London City two goals up, with only Courtney Brosnan keeping the score at 1:0.

Despite Everton’s resolute defending it only took one mistake for London City to double their lead. Freya Godfrey may have had a chance gone begging prior, but a misplaced Everton pass was all it took. Grace Geyoro handed it to Godfrey, who took a shot from outside the box and Brosnan couldn’t get to it to make it 2:0 with half an hour gone.

Everton’s first proper chance came just before half time as Yuka Momiki played in Holly McNamara, who couldn’t get her shot past Linari as it went out for a corner. Moments later Cascarino swung a cross in towards the Everton goal but Diani couldn’t direct it goalwards to end the first half.

London City started the second half the better side, an opening fifteen minutes devoid of chances but keeping the ball and keeping Everton from making any progress. Anoyimi and Putellas would eventually get on the pitch, replacing the goalscorers and showing the depth that the side 3rd in the league have added in the transfer window.

Everton would grab a goal in the 70th minute, Holly McNamara putting a cross into a gaping London City defence for substitute Hannah Cain, headed directly past Elene Lete to create an interesting last quarter of the match.

London City would feel hard done by to not go 3:1 up, Anoyimi playing Diani through but her goal was ruled out to keep the game close as the 82nd minute ticked by.

Everton nearly found their luck net via a corner but Lete couldn’t be beat, and with the full time whistle blowing London City took the three points and stayed in the precious Champions League spots.