Own-goal gifts lift Everton to fifth as Holdt hat-trick fuels Spurs rout

How do you amass six points without scoring a goal? Everton have completed the remarkable feat after a late winner at West Ham — an own goal from defender Laia Codina — gave them all three points and lifted Scott Phelan's side to fifth in the WSL table.

It is the second week running that a touch from an opponent has handed Everton victory. In Dagenham it was an even affair, with both sides nullifying each other: equal possession, similar expected goals and three shots on target apiece. The Toffees were defensively resilient, comfortably handling the threat of Kelly Gago and Viviane Asseyi, and their ability to finish strongly proved the difference — Phelan's substitutes ratcheted up the pressure late on, with Yuka Momiki providing the delivery that forced the decisive own goal.

Holdt hat-trick powers Spurs to 7-0 rout

Olivia Holdt marked her first start of the season with a hat-trick as Tottenham turned a dominant but goalless first half into a 7-0 demolition of Crystal Palace, who were reduced to 10 players after just seven minutes when Fuka Tsunoda was sent off for a reckless challenge on Cathinka Tandberg.

"When they got the red card, I was thinking this could actually be tougher for us," Holdt admitted. Spurs initially struggled against a deep defence, but after manager Martin Ho urged his players to get more bodies into the box at half-time, the ruthlessness flowed — Holdt had completed her hat-trick by the 73rd minute.

Brighton rue missed chances in Villa draw

Brighton, meanwhile, were left ruing a lack of clinical edge after 25 shots, eight on target and an xG of 3.17 yielded only a 1-1 draw at home to Aston Villa. Gabby George's first goal for the club gave them a deserved 31st-minute lead, but a corner they failed to defend led to Villa's 89th-minute equaliser, leaving new manager Arturo Ruiz still searching for a first win of the season.

"Here in our stadium, in these kinds of games we cannot lose two points," Ruiz said. "We need to get three points in 100% of these games."