Matildas ace Mary Fowler has crashed home a late penalty but it was not enough to deliver a perfect Yuletide gift for Manchester City as they squandered a glorious opportunity to gain ground on Women's Super League champions Chelsea going into the Christmas break.
![[Matildas star Alanna Kennedy had a match to forget and was substituted at half-time]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/15/22/93176007-0-image-a-2_1734300440905.jpg)
Fowler's 88th minute spot kick, which she blasted straight down the middle straight through the grasp of goalie Courtney Brosnan, gave City late hope on Sunday but it still proved too little too late as Everton beat City, remarkably, for the first time ever in the WSL.
![[The loss has dealt a serious blow to Manchester City's hopes of winning the WSL]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/15/22/93175997-0-image-a-3_1734300454969.jpg)
City's shock 2-1 defeat proved a miserable afternoon for both their Matildas, with Fowler fairly anonymous for most of the rest of the match in an unaccustomed central striking role replacing the injured Khadija Shaw, while Alanna Kennedy simply had a match to forget.
The experienced central defender was caught hopelessly out of position for Lucy Hope's headed goal after 31 minutes, and again looked on helpless at the heart of their defence as Honoka Hayashi grabbed the second eight minutes later. Her display prompted manager Gareth Taylor to substitute Kennedy at halftime.
Fowler put away her third league goal of the season, and her second in successive weeks, from the spot after Yui Hasegawa had been dragged down by Karoline Olesen - yet it turned out to be just a consolation. Mary Fowler slotted home from the penalty spot, but Manchester City lost 2-1.
Matildas star Alanna Kennedy had a match to forget and was substituted at half-time. Everton's win dealt a crushing blow to City's hopes after Chelsea had opened the door at the top by drawing 1-1 with lowly Leicester the previous day, and Fowler's crew are still six points behind the champions going into the Christmas break.
