Match reportLFC Women score seven as final pre-season friendly ends in big win
Beata Olsson scored a seven-minute hat-trick as Liverpool FC Women beat Durham 7-1 at St Helens Stadium in their final pre-season friendly.
Sunday’s victory made it five wins from five outings for Gareth Taylor’s side this summer, with the Reds having netted 20 goals and conceded just one in those games.
Olsson also added an assist to the three goals she notched inside the opening 20 minutes, with Marie Höbinger, Ceri Holland, Sara Agrez and academy forward Vic Jones also on the scoresheet.
Liverpool begin the new Barclays Women’s Super League campaign away at Charlton Athletic next Sunday (2pm BST kick-off). Tickets for the match are available here.
The Reds should have been ahead in the fifth minute after a high press brought a gilt-edged opportunity, Olsson teeing up Cornelia Kapocs, who shot wide.
Liverpool continued to dominate and it was no surprise when the first goal arrived on 13 minutes.
A Khiara Keating clearance was inadvertently headed into the path of Olsson by Grace Ayre, and the finish was emphatic from the striker.
Six minutes later, Olsson grabbed her second when Höbinger intercepted a pass from the left-back position and played in her teammate for another decisive finish.
A minute later and the hat-trick was complete, Kapocs the provider as Olsson checked inside and secured the match ball with the minimum of fuss.
It took a goalline clearance to deny her a fourth soon after, with Alice Bergstrom slipping her in to round the goalkeeper, but a defender got back to clear.
Olsson was involved in everything and almost turned provider when her ball found an unmarked Bergstrom in the box, whose shot was too close to the goalkeeper.
But Durham stopper Cat Sheppard could do nothing about the fourth a minute before the break, Bergstrom pulling back a perfect centre for Höbinger to deliver a classy finish.
The second half started in more low-key fashion, Agrez volleying over from a corner and Olsson denied yet again by the ’keeper.
The fifth arrived just after the hour mark, Höbinger releasing Olsson, who unselfishly crossed for half-time substitute Holland to pass the ball into the net.
That triggered a raft of changes, including the first minutes of pre-season for new signing Mari Ward and academy product Lola Kay.
The new line-up found their feet swiftly, Agrez adding goal number six after Jenna Clark headed a corner against the crossbar.
With 15 minutes left, the academy had another moment to savour from a positive pre-season with Vivien Endemann setting up Jones to show good feet and finish from close range.
Rachel Lowe grabbed a late consolation for the visitors, beating Faye Kirby from distance after pinching the ball from Fuka Nagano.
Team
Liverpool: Keating (Kirby, 46), Kerr (Kay, 62), Agrez (Breen, 76), Fisk (Clark, 62), Bernabe (Ward, 62), Ramos (E. Jones, 76) Höbinger (Nagano, 62), Maclean (V. Jones, 62), Bergstrom (Endemann, 62), Kapocs (Holland, 46), Olsson (Csillag, 62).