Everton Women 2-0 Newcastle United Women: Vignola double seals Players Cup win

Everton Women made it two wins out of two in the WSL Players Cup League Phase with a 2-0 victory over Newcastle United at Goodison Park, a late brace from Ornella Vignola doing the damage against a Newcastle side who remain winless in the group.

The game stayed goalless for long periods, with Rylee Foster starting in goal behind a back four of Hannah Silcock, Megan Finnigan, Hikaru Kitagawa and Rion Ishikawa. Noémie Mouchon, Aurora Galli, Honoka Hayashi, Hannah Cain and Vignola supported Jutta Rantala up front as Everton patiently probed a Newcastle defence marshalled by Anna Tamminen, Gemma Evans and Hanna Nemeth.

The breakthrough finally came in the 81st minute when Vignola fired home to put Everton ahead, and the winger wasted little time doubling the lead just three minutes later with her second of the match in the 84th minute, turning a tight contest into a comfortable finish for the home side.

Newcastle made several changes throughout as they searched for a way back, with Anna Tamminen making way for Kayla Rendell at half-time and further substitutions bringing on Jessie Gale, Ashanti Akpan, Mollie Lambert and Jemma Purfield. None of the changes could help the visitors find a route back into the game.

Cards were shown to both sides as the contest wore on. Newcastle's Leanne Kiernan was booked in the 48th minute, with Lia Cataldo following her into the book in the 65th minute. Everton's Vignola was also shown a yellow card in the 66th minute, before going on to score twice in the closing stages regardless.

Everton made their own changes late on, with Yuka Momiki, Clare Wheeler, Mayumi Pacheco and Rosa van Gool all introduced from the bench as the hosts saw out the win comfortably.

The result lifts Everton to two wins from two in the group phase, sitting on six points, while Newcastle remain without a win from three outings and bottom of the standings on goal difference. It is another step forward for an Everton side who currently sit sixth in the Women's Super League, with Vignola's double in Group A proving the difference at Goodison Park.

Written with the help of AI, using the match facts and the headlines from the publishers credited above. Each point links to the original report — tap the source name to read it in full.