Everton held Manchester City to a 1-1 draw at Goodison Park on Saturday, as the Toffees stopped their four-game losing streak by putting in a battling display against the reigning Premier League Champions.
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Despite dominating most of the game, City did not take the lead until the 74th minute when Fernandinho flicked home. However just three minutes later Steven Naismith equalized for Everton, as Roberto Martinez’s men held on for a point.
With the draw Everton move up to 12th on 22 points, while City stay in second on 47 points but slip two points behind leaders Chelsea.
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City controlled the first half with over 60 percent of the possession, but Pellegrini’s side just couldn’t carve open Everton’s defense in the final third as David Silva pulled all the strings but Stevan Jovetic and Jesus Navas wasted good chances to put the Citizens ahead.
Despite failing to threaten City’s goal for most of the first half, the Toffees almost went ahead just before the break as Romelu Lukaku had a shot well-saved by ‘keeper Joe Hart before the ball found its way to Seamus Coleman whose left-foot strike smashed the bar.
At the start of the second half Barkley flashed a free kick just wide of the post as Everton continued to put City under plenty of pressure with Lukaku getting the better of Eliaquim Mangala. The big Belgian forward then forced Hart into a fine fingertip save after getting the better of Mangala, once again, as the French defender then looked to have bundled over Phil Jagielka in the box but no penalty kick was given.
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Aguero then returned from injury for City as he replaced Jovetic for the final 25 minutes as the away side pushed for a winner. A few moments later it looked like it had arrived as a rapid counter attack down the right from Sami Nasri played in Silva, who had a shot deflected towards Fernandinho who headed home from close range. 1-0 to City with just over 15 minutes left.
Everton hit back right away as a free kick on the left was fizzed into the area by Leighton Baines and Naismith got just in front of Hart to flick home the equalizer. 1-1. City pushed to go ahead late in the game but even Frank Lampard’s arrival from the bench couldn’t stop City from coughing up two points.
LINEUPS
Everton: Joel, Baines, Jagielka, Stones, Coleman, Besic, Barry, McGeady (Mirallas, 77'), Naismith, Barkley, Lukaku
Goal: Naismith (78')
Manchester City: Hart, Zabaleta, Demichelis, Mangala, Clichy, Fernando, Fernandinho (Lampard, 82'), Navas, Silva, Nasri (Kolarov, 90'), Jovetic (Aguero, 67')
Goal: Fernandinho (74')