Ornella Vignola had quite the debut in the Women’s Super League (WSL). She finished the match with a hat-trick of her own and helped lift Everton to a 4-1 thumping against their Merseyside neighbors, Liverpool. The match, held at Goodison Park, showcased Vignola’s remarkable talent and solidified her place in Everton’s history. This victory not only secured crucial points for Everton but marked a significant moment, as Vignola became the first player since Dixie Dean in 1931 to score a hat-trick against Liverpool.
The game opened up with Ella Toone giving Everton an early lead, teeing up a dramatic comeback. Just in the nick of time, just before halftime, Katja Snoeijs doubled Everton’s advantage on a well-placed header. After halftime, the momentum clearly continued with Everton’s blade, but Vignola became the main feature as the second half developed.
A Historic Hat-Trick
Vignola’s first goal was the product of her impressive ball control and field awareness. She even announced her account opening in style, powering home a cross from Jayde Riviere with a powerful header on display to exhibit her aerial prowess. In a magnificent show of speed, two minutes apart, Vignola found the back of the net twice with her pure striking ability. She finished with a beautiful bending shot into the opposite top corner of the goal. The Liverpool backline was left utterly defenseless to respond.
This goal can only enhance Vignola’s growing reputation as a possible new instrumental factor for Everton this season. She was able to increase her scoring stats with three goals, netting both opportunistic and decisive goals. Further, she started the USWNT’s counter-attack that resulted in her opening goal. The impactful performance has raised the bar even more on her future contributions to the Sounders.
An Engaging Opening Match
In our second WSL fixture, Brighton hosted Aston Villa in a match dominated by defensive tactics which ultimately resulted in a 0-0 draw. Even with no goals scored, the two teams demonstrated how attacking both teams could be. Rachel Daly and Lynn Wilms both came close to breaking the deadlock for Aston Villa. Each one crashing the woodwork at nearly the exact same time! Brighton’s Michelle Agyemang came close when she rattled the woodwork.
With the match receiving great attention on and off the pitch, Sarina Wiegman was present to get a final look at the players’ performances. While neither team was able to secure a victory, the game highlighted the competitive nature of the league and the potential for future match-ups.
Implications for the Season
With the WSL season just starting, Everton’s dominant showing in the Merseyside derby makes them an early contender. Vignola’s impressive debut performance — combined with a strong, all-around team effort — has laid the groundwork for a great start as they look to build toward their next fixtures. The draw between Brighton and Aston Villa reflects the challenges teams will face as they strive for points in this competitive league.
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