Ladies let lead slip as Sunderland claim draw
It was a frustrating evening for Liverpool Ladies as they let a two-goal lead slip and were held to a 2-2 draw by Sunderland at the Select Security Stadium in Widnes on Saturday.
Playing their first Women’s Super League game since March 23, Scott Rogers’ side were looking to make the most of back-to-back home fixtures this week.
Sunderland started brightly and Siobhan Chamberlain showed her quality with a brilliant save to tip Beth Mead’s goalbound effort over the bar.
The Reds then began to look a real threat going forward and in Shanice Van De Sanden they have a player capable of unlocking any defence.
The opening goal was scored by Caroline Weir, who followed up to slot home from close range after Van De Sanden’s effort came back off the post.
A second goal duly arrived before the half-hour mark. Martha Harris made a brilliant interception, Weir sent Van De Sanden racing away down the right flank and the Dutch international’s inviting cross was then turned over the line by Laura Coombs.
Sunderland, who finished fourth in the WSL last season, are an ever improving team and they pulled a goal back through a Brooke Chaplen header just before the break.
The away side came out fighting at the start of the second half, but the Reds came so close to making it 3-1 when substitute Katie Zelem fired an effort just past the post.
Sunderland were not to be denied, though, and Chaplen soon had her second goal of the game just before the hour mark to make it 2-2.
Both sides had chances to get the winner, with Sunderland having a penalty appeal turned down, and the visitors nearly grabbed the victory in the fourth minute of stoppage-time but Chaplen’s close-range free-kick was off target.
Rogers’ side are back in action on Wednesday evening when they host reigning champions Chelsea at the Select Security Stadium, at 6.30pm BST.
Liverpool Ladies: Chamberlain, Harris, Longhurst, Van Den Berg, Bonner, Ingle, Harding, Coombs (Zelem), Lundh (Charles), Weir, Van De Sanden.