Cankovic on target as Albion beat Everton

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Midfielder's first WSL goal of the season earns visitors a 1-0 win at Goodison Park.

2026-01-23T21:45+00:00

Delight for Jelena Cankovic after she scored the only goal at Goodison Park. 📷Craig Galloway

Jelena Cankovic's first-half strike at Goodison Park ensured Albion returned to winning ways in the WSL.

Cankovic capped a fine individual performance with the goal that lifted the Seagulls up to sixth place in the table after being rewarded for finding the target as a substitute in last weekend's FA Cup victory over Nottingham Forest with a place in the starting line-up.

It was a timely three points for Albion after successive league defeats either side of the winter break, but they were good value for their win on a freezing Merseyside night.

With head coach Dario Vidosic granted a leave of absence for personal reasons, his assistant Chris Roberts took charge of the team once again. Roberts spent six years on the coaching staff at Goodison and his family still live in the area, so he would have been delighted to return back to the south coast as a winner.

Charlie Rule hassles Everton midfielder Rosa van Gool. 📷Craig Galloway

With Fran Kirby missing the game through injury and Everton smarting after losing all five of their WSL home games this season, this was a tricky test for Albion.

But they were victors when the two teams met at Broadfield Stadium in September and produced a forceful start in their bid to complete a double.

Everton struggled to cope with the energy of Albion's press and the precision of their passing in the initial stages, with the visitors enjoying more than 71 per cent possession in the opening 15 minutes. Captain Masie Symonds, Marisa Olislagers and Cankovic were prominent.

Rosa Kafaji curled one glorious cross from the right dangerously into the Toffees' box that forced a fine headed clearance from Martina Fernandez, while Cankovic's lofted pass was snatched off the toes of Kiko Seike by home keeper Courtney Brosnan.

Madison Haley brings the ball under control. 📷Craig Galloway

Everton gradually grew into the contest and were starting to offer some threat of their own when Albion surged ahead in the 41st minute.

Seike showed real perseverance to dispossess Fernandez wide on the right before weaving a pass to the byline and cutting a low pass back to Cankovic and the Serbian international steadied herself before ramming home a close-range finish. It was Cankovic's first WSL goal of the season.

Everton winger Toni Payne sent over two threatening crosses either side of Albion's opener. Payne then failed to take the home side's best chance immediately after the break when she intercepted Chiamaka Nnadozie's pass but saw the Albion keeper redeem the situation with a smart save.

At the other end, Cankovic sent a snap shot straight at Brosnan with the travelling contingent of Albion fans behind the goal ready to celebrate again.

Chiamaka Nnadozie claims a cross. 📷Craig Galloway

Albion were forced to withstand some fierce pressure in the closing stages, with Moeka Minami producing an outstanding headed clearance to thwart the lively Payne and Nnadozie saving brilliantly from substitute Melissa Lawley.

Madison Haley might have given the visitors more breathing space but was denied by Brosnan's save.