It wasn’t always pretty, but Manchester City found a way. A trip to Goodison Park looked destined to end in frustration for Pep Guardiola’s side before two late strikes — one from a teenage debutant and another from a seasoned midfielder — kept their Champions League dreams very much alive.
In a game short on quality and big moments, City left it until the final minutes to break down an Everton side that had defended with grit and no shortage of organisation. But when the moment came, they pounced — and it could prove pivotal in their quest to secure a place in Europe’s elite competition for next season.
O’Reilly and Kovacic Step Up in City’s Hour of Need
With just six minutes of normal time left on the clock, it was 19-year-old full-back Nico O’Reilly who delivered the breakthrough. The academy product, making only his second appearance for the senior side, arrived at the back post to convert Matheus Nunes’ low cutback, silencing the home crowd and sending the away end into raptures.
It was a moment of composure in a game that had sorely lacked it.
O’Reilly’s goal changed the tone entirely, and as Everton pushed forward in search of an equaliser, gaps began to open up. Mateo Kovacic, on as a substitute, sealed the deal in injury time with a smart finish on the stretch, guiding the ball past Jordan Pickford to put the result beyond doubt.
The final scoreline read 2-0 to Manchester City — a fair reflection of their control in the closing stages, even if they took their time to impose themselves.
First Half Flat, But City Finish Strong
Truthfully, the first half won’t live long in the memory. There was plenty of passing and probing from City, but little in the way of end product. Everton, meanwhile, were well-drilled, compact, and ready to frustrate.
The best chance of the opening 45 minutes fell to James Tarkowski, who rose to meet James Garner’s corner and sent a flicked header crashing off the post. It was a warning for City — one they didn’t appear to heed immediately.
City’s only real moment of danger before the interval came right at the end of the half. A quick counter saw Kevin De Bruyne break forward and unleash a goalbound shot, only for Jake O’Brien to make a heroic diving clearance off the line.
After the break, City looked sharper. Savinho forced a low save from Pickford with a skidding effort, and Ilkay Gundogan tested the England keeper with a powerful strike. Still, for much of the contest, the usual cutting edge was missing.
Champions League Still in Sight, But Questions Remain
Victory at Goodison keeps Manchester City fourth in the Premier League table, four points ahead of sixth-placed Chelsea, who are still to play this weekend. It’s a crucial cushion as the business end of the season approaches.
But this was not the fluid, irresistible City we’ve grown accustomed to in recent years. Injuries have clearly taken their toll, and the midfield — once the beating heart of this dominant side — is beginning to look in need of a serious rebuild.
De Bruyne, the talismanic playmaker, has already confirmed he’ll leave in the summer. At 33, his influence is beginning to wane, and that was evident here. Misplaced passes and a general lack of sharpness told the story of a player whose best days may be behind him.
Elsewhere, Gundogan continues to show flashes of his old self, but his second spell at the club since returning from Barcelona hasn’t yet caught fire. And with Bernardo Silva also struggling for consistency, Guardiola may need to oversee a summer overhaul in the middle of the park.
Still, for all their issues, City found a way. And with Aston Villa — one of the form teams in the league — visiting the Etihad on Tuesday, they’ll need to dig deep again to maintain their grip on a Champions League place.
Everton Left to Rue Late Collapse
For Everton, this was a tough result to take. They had matched City for long spells and looked set to claim a valuable point in the midst of a brutal run of fixtures against the league’s elite. Instead, they were undone by two goals in the dying minutes and left empty-handed.
David Moyes, who has steadied the ship since returning to the dugout in January, saw his side put in a disciplined shift. But once again, the Toffees came up short against Manchester City — Moyes has now gone 16 games without a win against them.
There were positives, of course. Jarrad Branthwaite impressed at the back and nearly scored with a looping header that Stefan Ortega had to claw away. Abdoulaye Doucoure also went close from a tight angle.
But the big concern will be the injury to Tarkowski. The centre-back, a near ever-present for Everton, limped off in the first half with what appeared to be a hamstring issue. Having started 111 consecutive games, he’s now in a race against time to be fit for next weekend’s trip to Chelsea — a game that looks even more important after this late defeat.
The Run-In Heats Up
With five games remaining, Manchester City’s fate remains in their own hands — but they’ll need to be better than this if they’re to secure that all-important Champions League spot. The firepower is still there, but the creative spark has dimmed, and the margin for error is shrinking fast.
Everton, meanwhile, will need to regroup and hope that Tarkowski’s injury isn’t too serious. They’ve shown fight and determination under Moyes, but in this unforgiving run of fixtures, they’ll need every ounce of resilience just to stay afloat.
As the season nears its conclusion, late goals like O’Reilly’s and Kovacic’s could end up defining campaigns — and deciding futures.
