Defending Women’s Super League champions Liverpool Ladies were narrowly defeated 2-1 by Sunderland in the opening game of the season at the Select Security Stadium in Widnes on Wednesday night.
Liverpool debutant Satara Murray got her name on the scoresheet for the hosts but it wasn’t enough to overcome the side from the north east.
Newly-promoted Sunderland lost on just one occasion last term, and they gave an excellent account of themselves with a memorable victory in the campaign opener against the Reds.
Liverpool’s first effort on goal came after five minutes when Fara Williams fired wide with her left foot from 25 yards.
The Reds began to settle and threatened again, when good work down the right by Ingrid Ryland saw her find Nicole Rolser, who adjusted her body and hit a half-volley on target but it was well handled by Sunderland goalkeeper Rachael Laws.
After nine minutes, Rolser raced away from the visitors’ defence and looked to round Laws. However, she couldn’t find a yard to pull the trigger and turned back to set up Ryland, who arrowed a shot just past the post.
Sunderland’s first sight on goal came after 15 minutes when Sarah McFadden tried her luck from distance, but the tame effort did not threaten as Libby Stout collected.
Moments later Williams burst forward before unleashing a ferocious effort on goal which had Laws scrambling until the left-footed rocket whistled wide of the Sunderland goal.
Midway through the first period, Katie Zelem tested Laws with a half-volley from just inside the area that was comfortably stopped by the Sunderland ‘keeper.
The Lady Black Cats took the lead after 26 minutes when a superb cross from the right by Kiera Ramshaw was met by a towering header from No.9 Bethany Mead, who expertly guided the ball home.
The Reds went close to equalising before the break as Martha Harris and Asisat Oshoala arrived late at the back post. It fell to the Nigerian, who snatched at the chance and struck wide of the target.
It was the champions who began the second half the stronger and applied the early pressure, Ryland impressing with some threatening deliveries from the right flank.
Sunderland carved open a chance when midfielder Rachel Furness spread the ball to the right where she found Ramshaw, the No.7 drifted infield and returned the ball to Furness, who hit a wicked strike towards the top corner only to be denied by a fine Stout stop.
Matt Beard’s side had a big shout for a penalty waved away before the hour mark when Rolser was clattered into from behind by Stephanie Bannon, only for the referee to wave away the Reds’ appeals.
Oshoala almost equalised when she cut in from the left and sent a driven right-footed strike on target, but Laws was once again at hand to prevent the leveller.
After 73 minutes a Williams free-kick from the right caused havoc in the Sunderland area and Natasha Dowie went close with a header from close range which struck the crossbar before the referee awarded a free-kick for a foul during the scramble.
Three minutes later Mead raced away from the Liverpool defence and into the area, where she touched the ball past the recovering Murray. The Sunderland forward was clipped and went to ground, leaving the referee with little option but to point to the spot.
From 12 yards, Sunderland debutant Brooke Chaplen calmly slotted the ball into the top corner to double the advantage for the visitors.
Murray made amends with 10 minutes remaining and reduced the Reds’ arrears with a powerfully struck finish. Williams sent in a wonderful corner which was palmed away by Laws and the Liverpool defender reacted quickest and fired home to give the Ladies a glimmer of hope.
The final chance on goal came when Williams tried to level from distance and hit a ferocious right-footed shot marginally over the crossbar.
But it wasn’t to be for Beard’s side, who will now look to bounce back against Birmingham next Wednesday in Widnes.
Liverpool Ladies FC Goal Scorer: Murray 81′
Sunderland AFC Ladies Goal Scorers: Mead 27′, Chaplen 77′
Liverpool Ladies Team: Libby Stout, Ingrid Ryland, Martha Harris (Maz Pacheco), Gemma Bonner, Satara Murray, Corina Schroder, Fara Williams, Katie Zelem (Line Smorsgard), Asisat Oshoala (Lucy Staniforth), Nicole Rolser, Natasha Dowie.
Unused substitutes: Danielle Gibbons, Becky Easton, Hannah Dale, Kate Longhurst.
Report courtesy of Liverpool Ladies FC
