- Jeremy Doku’s late equaliser rescued City after a six-goal thriller.
- Everton’s stunning second-half comeback fell short in the final minute.
- The dramatic draw hands Arsenal control of the Premier League title.
A breathless 96+ minutes at the Hill Dickinson ended in heartbreak for Everton, with the points being shared in a game that swung to and fro.
A game that looked destined to be a narrow but controlled Manchester City win, courtesy of a first-half stunner from Jeremy Doku, was turned on its head in 13 crazy second-half minutes.
In the end, it was the same player who rescued a point for City, albeit it’s a result that has handed the initiative in the Premier League title race to Arsenal.
Yet there was little sign of the drama to come when just two minutes before half-time, Doku curled one past Jordan Pickford. Up to that point, the Toffees had battled gamely after weathering an early storm, and looked to have a foothold in the game.
But City’s half-time lead offered them the perfect platform to control the tempo of the game in the second period, something they did well until the game was turned on its head in the 68th minute.
Everton joy…
From what appeared a position of no danger, Mark Guehi inexplicably under-hit a back-pass to Gianluigi Donnarumma and Thierno Barry – on as a 64th-minute substitute for Beto – stroked the ball home from what looked to be an offside position.
But, after consulting his assistant, referee Michael Oliver awarded the goal, after clarifying that, despite Barry being in an offside position, he was effectively played onside by Guehi, by him having control of the situation and then making an error.
The Hill Dickinson erupted twice – once for the goal and once for the VAR decision to award the goal.
Five minutes later, amid more Everton pressure and uncertain City defending, it was 2-0. From James Garner’s wicked, inswinging corner, Jake O’Brien beat Erling Haaland to the near-post flick, his header soaring into the roof of Donnarumma’s net.
As City pushed, Everton continued to break with menace, and the Toffees were in dreamland on 81 minutes when Barry made it 3-1.
Merlin Rohl was the creator with a surging run down the Everton right, but in the end, it was his wayward shot that landed fortuitously in the path of Barry for a four-yard tap-in.
Late heartbreak…
Unfortunately for Everton, they were afforded no time to consolidate their lead, and almost straight from kick-off, Bernardo Silva’s precision pass bisected Everton’s centre-backs, James Tarkowski and Michael Keane, and Haaland finished with his customary precision.
City continued to push, but Everton still carried a threat on the counter, and even when the fourth official signalled six additional minutes, the Hill Dickinson continued to believe, and the Blues stood firm.
But in one final twist, with the clock ticking onto 97 minutes, Doku bettered his feat of the first half, and curled one past Pickford to make it 3-3.
It was a result that, while deflating for Everton after such a sterling effort, has now opened the door for Arsenal, who now have the fate of the Premier League trophy in their own hands.
