Saturday, December 13, 2008

Man City 0-1 Everton

By Phil McNulty

Man City's Vincent Kompany challenges Everton's Segundo Castillo
Man City's Vincent Kompany challenges Everton's Segundo Castillo

Tim Cahill's winner deep into injury time gave Everton a dramatic victory against Manchester City at Eastlands.

Cahill rose to meet Leon Osman's corner to head past City's Joe Hart as the game looked certain to end in deadlock.

Mikel Arteta struck the bar with a free-kick early on and Shaun Wright-Phillips hit the woodwork for City.

Marouane Fellaini forced a fine save from Hart, while Everton's Tim Howard did well to deny Robinho and Stephen Ireland to set up the late win.

Everton boss David Moyes was ecstatic at the final whistle, especially after seeing his own side fall victim to an injury-time strike against Aston Villa last Saturday.

City, in contrast, were jeered off by their own fans, unhappy that they had been unable to break down an injury-hit Everton side.

606: DEBATE

Everton's striking resources were wiped out completely when Victor Anichebe was ruled out with a back injury - forcing Cahill to play as an emergency attacker.

It did not stop Moyes' side playing a full part in a highly entertaining first 45 minutes, which brought plenty of opportunities for both sides.

Osman shot just wide for Everton early on, but Arteta came even closer after nine minutes when his 25-yard free-kick struck the bar and Fellaini headed the rebound just over.

City showed plenty of verve and imagination in the final third, with Ireland lofting a finish over the top when he should have done better and Robinho forcing a fine save from Howard.

Howard then kept out Robinho's fellow Brazilian Elano before Arteta's stinging drive brought a fine reaction save from Hart.

City almost took the lead four minutes before the interval when Segundo Castillo conceded possession and Wright-Phillips grazed the bar with a rising drive.

Everton then rounded off the half with Hart doing well to deny Fellaini from 12 yards and Joleon Lescott heading the resulting corner just over.

City had to make a change at half-time, sending on Jo for hamstring injury victim Benjani.

Everton were dangerous again after 58 minutes when Phil Neville's inviting cross looked certain to be headed in at the far post by Cahill, but Pablo Zabaleta got the faintest of touches to make a vital stooping clearance.

The second half had been a much quieter affair, but Ireland brought Howard into action again with 18 minutes left, side-footing a precise finish, which the American dived to his left to save.

City made another change with eight minutes left, sending on Darius Vassell for Robinho, who looked short of full fitness after an ankle injury.

As the game went deep into time added on, Richard Dunne needlessly conceded a corner, and Everton snatched the win as Cahill stole in to send his header low past Hart.


Man City: Hart, Zabaleta, Richards, Dunne, Ball, Ireland, Kompany, Elano, Wright-Phillips, Mwaruwari (Jo 46), Robinho (Vassell 82).
Subs Not Used: Schmeichel, Onuoha, Fernandes, Hamann, Ben-Haim.

Everton: Howard, Neville, Yobo, Jagielka, Lescott, Osman, Pienaar, Fellaini, Castillo, Arteta, Cahill.
Subs Not Used: Nash, Hibbert, Baines, Van der Meyde, Rodwell, Jutkiewicz, Gosling.

Booked: Fellaini.

Goals: Cahill 90.

Att: 41,344

Ref: Mark Halsey (Lancashire).


BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match: Man City's Robinho 7.54 (on 90 minutes).

Please note that you can still give the players marks out of 10 on BBC Sport's Player Rater after the match has finished.


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