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Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero has one goal on nine shots in this year’s EPL schedule. (Getty)
Final
Manchester City 0-2 — 2
Everton 0-0 — 0
Manchester City is on a roll. It’s official.
The squad has notched nine straight victories, dating back to last season, to match a 103-year-old record. Oh, and they still have yet to concede a goal. So, things are going pretty well for Man City.
After a back and forth first half, that produced fairly equal stats and goose eggs across the board, Man City finally got on the board in the 60th minute and added a second victory-securing goal 28 minutes later. Overall, Man City’s offensive line looked aggressive, recording 16 total shots, including nine on goal, while holding Everton to just one shot on goal.
Tim Howard made seven saves in net for Everton, hurt by two defensive breakdowns on both goals late in the match. If there was a downside to Man City’s victory, it was the three yellow cards the team was whistled for, including a late call on sub Samir Nasri, who scored the game’s second goal. Click here to check out a full box score of the match.
Samir Nasri Added the Cushion in the 88th Minute
Come into game. Score goal. Secure victory. Easy enough, right? It is if you’re Samir Nasri, apparently.
The goal, Nasir’s first of the season, was assisted by Yaya Touré and was a nice ball that just lobbed over Tim Howard as Everton’s defensive presence simply collapsed in the waning minutes of the match.
Aleksandar Kolarov Broke the Stalemate in 60th Minute
It only took an hour.
Somehow, Man City’s Aleksandar Kolarov found an angle in front of the net, inching the ball in past Everton keeper Tim Howard to, finally, get points on the board. Howard appeared to be playing the pass, not expecting Kolarov to shoot from that angle. To be fair, not many people would have expected Kovarov to shoot from that agnle.
Let’s just say the Man City Twitter was fairly thrilled with the play:
Everton Missed Two Free Kicks Late in the First Half
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(Getty)
Just minutes after Ross Barkley missed an opportunity on an Everton free kick, Romelu Lukaku followed with a miss of his own in stoppage time.
This wasn’t the first frustrating moment for Lukaku who was whistled for an offsides on a goal in the 23rd minute. Overall, at the break, it was a fairly evenly played match with Man City earning the slight edge on possession with 52%. Everton recorded five shots, including one on goal, while Man City racked up nine shots and five on goal.
Eliaquim Mangala Was Whistled For a Yellow Card in the 43rd Minute
Ross Barkley found himself tangled up on the ground just outside the box when Mangala got his feet caught up late in the first of play. The card gave Barkley a free kick in a prime position but it seemed as if the weather, another rainy, mushy mess, hurt his chances on the shot, which sailed right over the net.
Manchester City breathed a collective sigh of relief:
Tim Howard Had Two Saves in the First 10 Minutes
Alright, Tim Howard.
The Everton keeper notched a pair of stellar saves early, keeping Man City off the board and out of the back of the net. Howard was a major presence early on as Man City controlled much of the possession in the game’s opening minutes.
Game Preview
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Southampton’s Cedric Soares and Everton’s Brendan Galloway battled for possession during an EPL matchup last weekend. (Getty)
Manchester City has yet to give up a goal, with victories over West Brom and Chelsea in its first two matches, but Everton won’t be a simple walk in the metaphorical soccer park.
After all, the phrase “Everton at Goodison Park” is one that Man City fans despise. In the last 18 league games, Everton has posted 10 wins and five draws at home. Man City needs to maintain possession to make it 3-0 but Everton has found success soaking up pressure and striking on the breakout.
Manchester City Manuel Pellegrini said he wasn’t surprised by his side’s early-season charge, telling Express, “They were angry at what happened last season and hungry to win titles again. So I think you have seen the players play the way they can do and the important thing is now to continue in the same way.” Expect a bit more on-field anger on Sunday, particularly with that target on their collective back.