Match reportKapocs strikes as Liverpool draw 1-1 with Crystal Palace in WSL

Former Reds striker Katie Stengel pounced to give the visitors a 14th-minute lead at St Helens Stadium, but Kapocs dispatched an equaliser prior to half-time.

Both teams had opportunities after the break and only the post denied Olivia Smith a winning goal as it ended with a point apiece.

The opening phases were largely uneventful, with Gemma Bonner making an important headed clearance in her own penalty area before going down and claiming a foul in the opposition box – though the referee was unmoved.

But the quiet spell, and the deadlock, was broken by the Londoners in minute 14.

Having cut through on the right side of the Reds’ box and moved the ball into the middle, Palace managed to capitalise on the scramble that ensued.

Annabel Blanchard’s attempt to hook a finish at goal came to former Liverpool forward Stengel and through her initial shot was blocked well by Gemma Evans, she was able to guide the rebound beyond Rachael Laws from close range.

There was a small chance for Jasmine Matthews that she could only glance wide from Marie Höbinger’s fizzed free-kick, while Stengel failed to connect when found unmarked at the far post from an Eagles corner.

A frantic conclusion to the half commenced when a lovely slide-rule pass through the left channel sent Blanchard clear and Laws raced from goal to make a vital intervention.

Mia Enderby then sprinted away on a sustained counter-attack that carried her all the way to goal. Shae Yanez timed her rush out to block, however, and Smith was also thwarted on the follow-up.

Seconds later, Liverpool levelled courtesy of Kapocs.

The summer signing successfully charged down a Palace clearance at the edge of their box, moved forward and slammed a strong finish past the goalkeeper into the right corner.

Still, Stengel might have restored the away side’s advantage a minute before the interval – but on this occasion she lifted the ball over the crossbar from Mille Gejl’s dinked pass.

Reds manager Matt Beard deployed a triple change at the outset of the second half, with Jenna Clark, Ceri Holland and Leanne Kiernan sent on from the bench.

Smith fired over the upright from a difficult angle early on, while Indiah-Paige Riley squandered a promising opportunity when picked out by Lily Woodham’s cross from the left flank.

With the contest firmly in the balance, the hosts were grateful for a superb Bonner block to prevent Stengel from scoring again.

Blanchard had found space down the left and squared into the area for her teammate, who spun and aimed at goal but saw her finish deflected too high by Bonner’s diving tackle.

Liverpool were so close to getting in front themselves just prior to the final 15 minutes as Smith’s thump from more than 20 yards out beat Yanez but clattered the right post.

Höbinger and Smith almost combined to productive effect from a throw-in on the right-hand side, but the latter’s clipped strike was wide of the near post.

My Cato subsequently nodded over Laws’ net at the end of a spell of head-tennis in Reds territory, and seven minutes of stoppage time passed without a winner.

Team

Laws, Parry (Fisk, 64), Bonner, Matthews, Evans, Hinds (Clark, 46), Höbinger, Nagano, Smith, Enderby (Kiernan, 46), Kapocs (Holland, 46).

Unused subs: Fahey, Daniels, Silcock, Duffy.

Next up

The season now pauses for an international break, with Liverpool’s next fixture a trip to Aston Villa in the WSL on Sunday November 3 (4.30pm GMT).

Ticket details for that game are available here.