Everton 2-0 Manchester City
Pienaar opened the scoring for Everton
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By Tom Powell. |  |
Saturday, 16, Jan 2010 07:26
By Darren Estwick.
A superb display by Everton resulted in a 2-0 win over Manchester City at Goodison Park, with goals by Steven Pienaar and a penalty by Louis Saha.
The Merseyside club harassed City from the start causing then untold problems in defence whilst Marouane Fellaini provided exceptional cover for the Everton goalkeeper with a masterful display in the anchor role.
City record signing Robinho suffered another one of those frustrating days which resulted in him being brought off the substitute bench after five minutes and taken off again on the hour mark.
It was City who threatened first however.
Martin Petrov, playing on the right hand side, cut infield to unleash a shot which was parried well by Tim Howard. A few minutes later a cross by Zabaleta flew across the Everton box only for Robinho to shoot over with his weaker foot.
Despite these early opportunities the home side bristled with intent as they looked to build on their good recent form.
A sharp pass by new by Landon Donovan found its way back to the USA international via a Louis Saha boot. Donovan proceeded to burst into the box but his cross come shot drifted out for a goal kick.
Hesitation in the City defence then presented the next chance for Diniyar Bilyaletdinov whose half volley was tipped over the bar by Shay Given for a corner.
The opening goal came via a free kick after Saha had been tripped by Zabaleta.
Pienaar took it and watched with glee as the ball travelled right through a feeble City wall and nestle inside Given's near post for a cheap goal. It was Nigel de Jong who went walkabouts in the City wall, allowing the ball to travel where he should have been. Given tried in vain to stop the ball, after being surprised at its surprising direction.
With David Moyes encouraging from the sidelines, Everton came forward again. It was once again Bilyaletdinov who broke into the area before flashing a shot just wide of the far post.
City responded with a counter attack of their own but Bellamy's effort was turned around the post by Howard with Tevez lurking.
Just before half time Everton managed to get the all important second goal. Saha collected the ball and turned into the area shadowed by Micah Richards who had a handful of the forward's shirt. The linesman flagged to signal a foul on the Everton man, which was confirmed by the referee much to the annoyance of the City players.
Saha stepped up to put the ball straight down the middle and effectively win the game for the home side.
At half time City boss Roberto Mancini had a major headache. Roque Santa Cruz had been injured in the first half and Petrov was struggling with an injury.
Robinho had been brought on but had been anonymous and suffered the embarrassment of being a substitute substituted on 60 minutes much to the mirth of the Everton fans.
City were abject in the second half and could have lost by more.
The excellent Fellaini got his head to a Donovan corner only to see it pushed onto the bar by Given and the rebound blasted over by Bilyaletdinov and with ten minutes remaining Cahill was found by a Leighton Baines cross but his header also struck the charmed life of the City goal.
Many observers believed this would be the first test for City and new bass Mancini after wins in his first four games of the season. The questions will now begin over a side who showed a lack of fight when then needed it most.