Match ends, Everton 2, Manchester City 1.
EvertonEverton2Man CityManchester City1
Everton hold the advantage in the League Cup semi-final against Manchester City after Romelu Lukaku's 19th goal of the season gave them a victory in the first leg at Goodison Park.
City looked to have secured a draw with 14 minutes left, when Jesus Navas finished a sweeping counter attack following brilliant work by Sergio Aguero.
That equaliser cancelled out Ramiro Funes Mori's opener for Everton on the stroke of half-time.
Argentine Funes Mori pounced after Willy Caballero saved Ross Barkley's shot - although City were nursing an understandable sense of injustice with Lukaku standing in an offside position in front of the keeper.
Everton refused to be sunk by Navas' sucker punch and responded within two minutes, Lukaku heading in his 12th goal in 12 games from Gareth Barry's perfect cross.
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Man City's rough luck?
Everton had efforts from John Stones and Lukaku rightly ruled out for offside - and it looked like a case of third time lucky for Martinez's team when Funes Mori struck just before half-time.
Caballero did well to block Barkley's shot, even though the giant figure of Lukaku was clearly standing offside, and appeared to be in the City keeper's line of vision.
Lukaku did not touch the ball, and did not appear to make a movement towards it, so the debate centred on whether he was interfering with an opponent by obstructing Caballero's view.
Referee Robert Madley waved away City's protests and Everton grasped at their good fortune - but the visitors had every right to feel they were hard done by.
That was not the only frustration for City manager Manuel Pellegrini, who felt his side had a strong penalty appeal rejected when Navas went down under a Kevin Mirallas challenge.
"Everton's first goal was absolutely offside and it was a clear penalty when Jesus Navas was fouled," Pellegrini said. "I didn't speak to the referee after the game - they were both clear.
"To lose 2-1 is a bad result but it just means we have to win 1-0 at home. I still think we are able to play in the Capital One Cup final."
| Law 11: The offside rule | |
|---|---|
| Under the old rule, a player was allowed to stand in an offside position as long as they were deemed to be not actively interfering with play. | But under this season's changes, a player will now be ruled offside if they clearly make an attempt to play the ball, or if the offside player makes an action which impacts his opponent's ability to play the ball. |
Gareth Barry's masterclass
When the 34-year-old former England midfielder struggled last season, many thought this model professional's distinguished career at the top was coming to a close.
Barry has demonstrated that reports of his demise were greatly exaggerated by having an outstanding campaign this term - and all that experience was on show here.
He was the perfect partner for the abrasive, energetic Mo Besic, the rough diamond whose early tackling and positive approach kept Everton going through a slow start and roused a subdued Goodison Park.
Barry, in turn, showed all his class as he strode through midfield making crucial interceptions, breaking up play and barely wasting a pass.
Barkley had a frustrating evening further forward but once again he never stopped driving at City's defence and epitomised Everton's approach after the early exchanges, even though he promised more than he delivered, with several strikes either wide of the target or saved by Caballero.
Toure's disappearing act
While Barry and Besic ran the show around him, City midfielder Yaya Toure looked every day of his 32 years and more besides.
A lumbering figure, he had no impact on the game and his contribution was summed up when an attempted forward run in the first half was halted by the pace and power of Besic, who caught the giant Ivorian to tackle and rob him, leaving him stranded on the ground.
Even as City chased their way back into the game in the second half, Toure was nowhere to be seen. Normally such an influence, he was little more than a passenger.
Toure is still capable of moments of brilliance, as he showed when scoring in Saturday's win at Watford - but are the years finally catching up with the man who has been City's talisman so often?
Man of the match - Gareth Barry
The stats you need to know
- Lukaku has netted four goals in five League Cup appearances this season.
- Navas scored his first goal for City since September 2014 (v Sheffield Wednesday) - a wait of 66 games in all competitions for the club.
- This is the first time Pellegrini has lost to Everton as Manchester City boss (W4 D1).
- Roberto Martinez won just his second game against Manchester City as a manager, the other being the 2013 FA Cup final (W2 D2 L11).
What next?
Both teams are in FA Cup action this weekend, with Everton hosting Dagenham and Redbridge, and Manchester City travelling to Norwich. City and Everton meet again in the Premier League at Etihad Stadium next Wednesday.
Line-ups
Everton
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Robles
- 23Coleman
- 5Stones
- 25Funes Mori
- 3Baines
- 17Besic
- 18Barry
- 19DeulofeuSubstituted forMirallasat 68'minutes
- 20Barkley
- 15CleverleySubstituted forOsmanat 45'minutes
- 10LukakuSubstituted forKonéat 82'minutes
Substitutes
- 6Jagielka
- 9Koné
- 11Mirallas
- 12Lennon
- 21Osman
- 24Howard
- 32Galloway
Man City
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 13Caballero
- 3Sagna
- 30Otamendi
- 20MangalaSubstituted forDemichelisat 45'minutes
- 22Clichy
- 25Fernandinho
- 18DelphBooked at 51minsSubstituted forNavasat 54'minutes
- 17De BruyneSubstituted forRegesat 90+1'minutes
- 42Y Touré
- 21Silva
- 10Agüero
Substitutes
- 1Hart
- 6Reges
- 7Sterling
- 11Kolarov
- 15Navas
- 26Demichelis
- 72Iheanacho
- Referee:
- Robert Madley
- Attendance:
- 34,027
Match Stats
Home TeamEvertonAway TeamMan City
- Possession
- Home47%
- Away53%
- Shots
- Home8
- Away18
- Shots on Target
- Home7
- Away4
- Corners
- Home6
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home5
- Away4
Live Text
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Full Time
Second Half ends, Everton 2, Manchester City 1.
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Foul by Fernandinho (Manchester City).
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Ross Barkley (Everton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Offside, Manchester City. Fernandinho tries a through ball, but David Silva is caught offside.
Substitution
Substitution, Manchester City. Fernando replaces Kevin De Bruyne.
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Seamus Coleman went off injured after Everton had used all subs.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Delay in match Seamus Coleman (Everton) because of an injury.
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Attempt saved. Muhamed Besic (Everton) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ross Barkley.
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Attempt blocked. Yaya Touré (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Sergio Agüero (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Leon Osman (Everton).
Substitution
Substitution, Everton. Arouna Koné replaces Romelu Lukaku because of an injury.
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Attempt missed. Jesús Navas (Manchester City) right footed shot from the right side of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Fernandinho.
Goal!
Goal! Everton 2, Manchester City 1. Romelu Lukaku (Everton) header from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Gareth Barry with a cross.
Goal!
Goal! Everton 1, Manchester City 1. Jesús Navas (Manchester City) left footed shot from the left side of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Sergio Agüero with a through ball following a fast break.
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Corner, Everton. Conceded by Nicolás Otamendi.
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Attempt blocked. Leighton Baines (Everton) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Leon Osman.
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Attempt blocked. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
