E-Paper
Faltering City get caught by gutsy Gunners
MANCHESTER: Nolito’s header saved a point for a dominant Manchester City side as the Premier League leaders had two penalties saved in a 1-1 draw at home to Everton
MANCHESTER: Nolito’s header saved a point for a dominant Manchester City side as the Premier League leaders had two penalties saved in a 1-1 draw at home to Everton on Saturday.
Everton’s Romelu Lukaku scored on the break 19 minutes into the second half after Ronald Koeman’s visitors had absorbed sustained pressure
Everton goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg, who had saved a first-half penalty from Kevin De Bruyne, then blocked another from Sergio Aguero.
But the goalkeeper was finally beaten as Nolito, on as a substitute for only a minute, headed in David Silva’s cross in the 72nd minute.
The match promised to be a fascinating contest between Koeman and City manager Pep Guardiola, who were room-mates and close friends when they played together in Barcelona’s 1992 European Cup winning side.
However, it was a frustrating first half for most of those inside the stadium, and quite a few outside it too. Several hundred home supporters were still streaming into the ground more than 20 minutes after kick-off, as a result of increased security checks at the turnstiles by Showsec, the company which manages City’s match day security.
Those who got to their seats late missed little, as the home side failed to make a significantly larger share of possession count.
Leroy Sane, playing as a right-wing-back, made a couple of impressive early runs that stretched Everton, forcing Stekelenburg to beat away a shot at the near post, and seeing a penalty appeal rejected after he tumbled over Bryan Oviedo’s trailing leg.
Guardiola’s decision to field three centre-halves and two wing-backs seemed designed to give his team added width, but they found it difficult to break down the visitors.
