Ladies begin South Africa tour with victory
Liverpool Ladies began the Discovery and Liverpool Ladies FC Tour 2016 in Johannesburg with a 2-1 victory against Yarona Ladies thanks to goals from Caroline Weir and Katie Zelem on Sunday.
After a lively start from Scott Rogers’ new-look side, Zelem came close to heading the Reds into the lead with a header before Natasha Harding was denied by a great save by the home side’s goalkeeper.
An outstanding move from the visitors involving Kate Longhurst, Emma Lundh and Zelem then ended with Ashley Hodson’s cross from the right just evading the run of Longhurst as the Liverpool Ladies pressed for an opening goal.
Another pinpoint set-piece delivery from the impressive Weir was then flicked goalwards by Zelem but the visitors still could not find the breakthrough at the Nike Training Centre in Soweto.
Scotland international Weir was then denied the opening goal by the offside flag before a host of half-time substitutes saw the introduction of Danielle Gibbons, Maz Pacheco and Shanice Van De Sanden.
Midfielder Longhurst missed when one-on-one with the goalkeeper after her dipping effort flew inches over the crossbar before Harding was again denied by Yarona Ladies’ stopper.
The home side took the lead against the run of play as Yarona’s No.11 seized upon a slip in the Reds defence to finish emphatically into the top corner and give Gibbons no chance.
Despite the setback, Rogers’ side responded well and Weir scored a superb goal after a great turn and finish following an outstanding run and pull-back from Welsh international Harding.
And, after Weir was inches away from doubling her tally for the day, midfielder Zelem capitalised on some indecision in Yarona Ladies’ defence to head home the winning goal in the last minute.
Liverpool Ladies: Chamberlain (Gibbons), Hodson (Pacheco), Bonner, Van Den Berg, Greenwood, Ingle, Longhurst, Zelem, Weir, Harding, Lundh (Van De Sanden).
Click here to view a selection of photographs from the game>>