Match-winner Lexi Lloyd-Smith (left) joined Crystal Palace from Bristol City during the summer
Newly promoted Crystal Palace won on their Women's Super League return as they beat Everton at Gander Green Lane.
Lexi Lloyd-Smith scored the only goal of the game on her Palace debut in the 34th minute when she nipped the ball off the toe of Everton defender Rion Ishikawa, raced through and prodded past keeper Courtney Brosnan.
It earned three points for Palace, who only won twice in 2024-25 - their only previous season in the WSL - and were relegated by a 10-point margin.
This win indicates Palace could be more competitive this season, although they were made to work for the win by Everton.
Zara Kramzar should have equalised on her Toffees debut just before half-time, but struck the crossbar from six yards out.
And they nearly snatched a late leveller in second-half stoppage time, when a period of heavy pressure saw Ornella Vignola and Ruby Mace both have shots blocked on the line.
Palace came close to scoring in the second half themselves, with Abbie Larkin's strike tipped on to the crossbar by Brosnan before Lloyd-Smith finished from an offside position.
It means an opening defeat for Everton boss Scott Phelan, who was named permanent manager over the summer to replace Brian Sorensen.
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