The Blues beat Aston Villa 3-0 to book their place in the fifth round of the Women’s FA Cup
If Everton were looking for an antidote to the January blues, last weekend’s FA Cup victory over Aston Villa might just have provided it.
Ahead of Saturday’s clash with Carla Ward’s side, manager Brian Sorensen insisted his players were “full of confidence” in spite of their turbulent start to the season. Certainly, anyone who watched Everton’s showing in the West Midlands would find it hard to argue with that particular assertion.
The Blues dominated the contest and were rewarded for their efforts in the 58th minute when Karoline Olesen’s classy finish broke the deadlock at Bescot Stadium. A Katja Snoeijs double in the closing stages rubber-stamped what was, without doubt, Everton’s most impressive victory of the season and secured their passage to the FA Cup fifth round.
“Knock on wood that our spring is different to the fall,” Sorensen said after the game. “Looking back at it, we had 10 starters out for more than two or three games and it was disrupted every week so we had no consistency. We were trying to build a plane while we were flying.
Indeed, Everton’s enormous potential was clear for all to see on Saturday afternoon. As highlighted by their manager, the Women’s Super League (WSL) winter break had allowed for the return of a number of absentees – including wing-back Lucy Hope and versatile defender Elise Stenevik – to the matchday squad.
Sorensen’s ranks were also bolstered by the addition of two Denmark internationals, both of whom put pen to paper on Everton deals in the days leading up to the Villa clash. The first of the two to be announced was 20-year-old Katherine Moller Kuhl, who is set to spend the rest of the season on loan at Walton Hall Park from fellow WSL side Arsenal.
Kuhl has previously worked with Sorensen at Danish side FC Nordsjaelland, with the Everton boss having handed the young midfielder her senior debut at the age of just 16. News of Kuhl’s arrival was swiftly followed by confirmation that forward Rikke Madsen has also joined the Blues on an 18-month deal until the end of June 2025.
The 26-year-old has made the switch to Merseyside from National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) side North Carolina Courage and her ability to play anywhere across the frontline could prove to be hugely beneficial for Sorensen’s side in the second half of the campaign. Both of Everton’s new signings were introduced from the bench against Villa but will hope to play a bigger part when the Blues’ take on third-tier side Nottingham Forest in the fifth round of the competition next month.
Before that, Everton have a string of tricky WSL fixtures to navigate, starting with this weekend’s clash with title hopefuls Arsenal at Meadow Park . But, while Saturday’s showdown with the Gunners will likely prove a stern test for Sorensen’s side, the Blues’ most recent showing proves they are certainly capable of turning on the style.
