Everton all but ended Man City’s title hopes with a battling win over Roberto Mancini’s side.
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Ten-man Everton sounded a probable death knell on Manchester City’s title defence with a hard-fought 2-0 win over the Premier League champions at Goodison Park on Saturday.
Despite the second-half dismissal of Steven Pienaar, Everton dug deep for a victory that means Manchester United can go 15 points clear at the top of the table by winning at home to Reading later.
Leon Osman made the breakthrough for the hosts in the 32nd minute, meeting Seamus Coleman’s lay-off with a swerving shot from 25 yards that deceived goalkeeper Joe Hart and flew into the top-left corner.
The momentum tilted in City’s favour with half an hour to play when Pienaar was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for a shin-high foul on Javi Garcia.
However, Everton’s second-choice goalkeeper Jan Mucha kept the visitors at bay, producing fine saves to thwart Carlos Tevez, James Milner and Pablo Zabaleta.
City were also denied a clear penalty in the 86th minute when referee Lee Probert awarded the visitors a free-kick for a hand-ball by Marouane Fellaini that occurred inside the 18-yard box.
Substitute Nikica Jelavic curled in Everton’s second goal in injury time to seal a win that lifted David Moyes’ side to fifth place and banished memories of last weekend’s abject loss to Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup.
“We have had one or two dips but that was more like us today,” said Everton manager Moyes.
“I thought we had a bad performance last week, which the fans rightly reminded us about, but we just reminded them they are supporting a really good team.”
On the Fellaini hand-ball, City assistant coach David Platt told Sky Sports: “You’ve just played it to me (on a television replay) and it’s not even on the line of the area, it’s three yards inside.
“People can draw their own conclusions, but we didn’t get it. Perhaps we could have got more out of the game if the decisions had gone for us.”
Bóng ?á: Everton 2-0 Man City (all goals – highlights – HD) by tapchibongda