07 Jan 2016
Everton on top in semi-final tie

Everton hold the advantage in the League Cup semi-final against Manchester City after Romelu Lukaku's 19th goal of the season gave them a victory in the first leg at Goodison Park.

City looked to have secured a draw with 14 minutes left, when Jesus Navas finished a sweeping counter attack following brilliant work by Sergio Aguero.

That equaliser cancelled out Ramiro Funes Mori's opener for Everton on the stroke of half-time.

Argentine Funes Mori pounced after Willy Caballero saved Ross Barkley's shot - although City were nursing an understandable sense of injustice with Lukaku standing in an offside position in front of the keeper.

Everton refused to be sunk by Navas' sucker punch and responded within two minutes, Lukaku heading in his 12th goal in 12 games from Gareth Barry's perfect cross.

More on this story:

Barry one of England's best ever - Martinez

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Man City's rough luck?

Everton had efforts from John Stones and Lukaku rightly ruled out for offside - and it looked like a case of third time lucky for Martinez's team when Funes Mori struck just before half-time.

Caballero did well to block Barkley's shot, even though the giant figure of Lukaku was clearly standing offside, and appeared to be in the City keeper's line of vision.

Lukaku did not touch the ball, and did not appear to make a movement towards it, so the debate centred on whether he was interfering with an opponent by obstructing Caballero's view.

Referee Robert Madley waved away City's protests and Everton grasped at their good fortune - but the visitors had every right to feel they were hard done by.

That was not the only frustration for City manager Manuel Pellegrini, who felt his side had a strong penalty appeal rejected when Navas went down under a Kevin Mirallas challenge.

"Everton's first goal was absolutely offside and it was a clear penalty when Jesus Navas was fouled," Pellegrini said. "I didn't speak to the referee after the game - they were both clear.

"To lose 2-1 is a bad result but it just means we have to win 1-0 at home. I still think we are able to play in the Capital One Cup final."

Law 11: The offside rule

Under the old rule, a player was allowed to stand in an offside position as long as they were deemed to be not actively interfering with play.

But under this season's changes, a player will now be ruled offside if they clearly make an attempt to play the ball, or if the offside player makes an action which impacts his opponent's ability to play the ball.

Gareth Barry's masterclass

When the 34-year-old former England midfielder struggled last season, many thought this model professional's distinguished career at the top was coming to a close.

Barry has demonstrated that reports of his demise were greatly exaggerated by having an outstanding campaign this term - and all that experience was on show here.

He was the perfect partner for the abrasive, energetic Mo Besic, the rough diamond whose early tackling and positive approach kept Everton going through a slow start and roused a subdued Goodison Park.

Barry, in turn, showed all his class as he strode through midfield making crucial interceptions, breaking up play and barely wasting a pass.

Barkley had a frustrating evening further forward but once again he never stopped driving at City's defence and epitomised Everton's approach after the early exchanges, even though he promised more than he delivered, with several strikes either wide of the target or saved by Caballero.

Yaya Toure

Yaya Toure has been criticised by some fans and pundits for his performances this season

Toure's disappearing act

While Barry and Besic ran the show around him, City midfielder Yaya Toure looked every day of his 32 years and more besides.

A lumbering figure, he had no impact on the game and his contribution was summed up when an attempted forward run in the first half was halted by the pace and power of Besic, who caught the giant Ivorian to tackle and rob him, leaving him stranded on the ground.

Even as City chased their way back into the game in the second half, Toure was nowhere to be seen. Normally such an influence, he was little more than a passenger.

Toure is still capable of moments of brilliance, as he showed when scoring in Saturday's win at Watford - but are the years finally catching up with the man who has been City's talisman so often?

Man of the match - Gareth Barry

Gareth Barry

Barry made crucial interceptions and broke up play, while his arcing left-wing cross gave Lukaku the chance to head home the winner

The stats you need to know

  • Lukaku has netted four goals in five League Cup appearances this season.
  • Navas scored his first goal for City since September 2014 (v Sheffield Wednesday) - a wait of 66 games in all competitions for the club.
  • This is the first time Pellegrini has lost to Everton as Manchester City boss (W4 D1).
  • Roberto Martinez won just his second game against Manchester City as a manager, the other being the 2013 FA Cup final (W2 D2 L11).

What next?

Both teams are in FA Cup action this weekend, with Everton hosting Dagenham and Redbridge, and Manchester City travelling to Norwich. City and Everton meet again in the Premier League at Etihad Stadium next Wednesday.

Lineup, Bookings (1) & Substitutions (6)

Everton

  • 01 Robles
  • 23 Coleman
  • 05 Stones
  • 25 Funes Mori
  • 03 Baines
  • 17 Besic
  • 18 Barry
  • 19 Deulofeu (Mirallas - 68' )
  • 20 Barkley
  • 15 Cleverley (Osman - 45' )
  • 10 Lukaku (Koné - 82' )

Substitutes

  • 06 Jagielka
  • 09 Koné
  • 11 Mirallas
  • 12 Lennon
  • 21 Osman
  • 24 Howard
  • 32 Galloway

Manchester City

  • 13 Caballero
  • 03 Sagna
  • 30 Otamendi
  • 20 Mangala (Demichelis - 45' )
  • 22 Clichy
  • 25 Fernandinho
  • 18 Delph Booked (Jesús Navas - 54' )
  • 17 De Bruyne (Fernando - 91' )
  • 42 Y Touré
  • 21 Silva
  • 10 Agüero

Substitutes

  • 01 Hart
  • 06 Fernando
  • 07 Sterling
  • 11 Kolarov
  • 15 Jesús Navas
  • 26 Demichelis
  • 72 Iheanacho
Ref: Robert Madley

Match Stats

Shots

8 18

On target

7 4

Corners

6 6

Fouls

5 4

Live Text Commentary

Full time

Full Time Match ends, Everton 2, Manchester City 1.

90:00 +4:33 Full time

Full Time Second Half ends, Everton 2, Manchester City 1.

90:00 +2:20

Foul by Fernandinho (Manchester City).

90:00 +2:20

Ross Barkley (Everton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

90:00 +1:28

Offside, Manchester City. Fernandinho tries a through ball, but David Silva is caught offside.

90:00 +0:40 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Manchester City. Fernando replaces Kevin De Bruyne.

87:50

Seamus Coleman went off injured after Everton had used all subs.

87:42

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

86:24

Delay in match Seamus Coleman (Everton) because of an injury.

85:03

Attempt saved. Muhamed Besic (Everton) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ross Barkley.

82:36

Attempt blocked. Yaya Touré (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

81:37

Sergio Agüero (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

81:37

Foul by Leon Osman (Everton).

81:23 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Everton. Arouna Koné replaces Romelu Lukaku because of an injury.

80:14

Attempt missed. Jesús Navas (Manchester City) right footed shot from the right side of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Fernandinho.

77:27 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Everton 2, Manchester City 1. Romelu Lukaku (Everton) header from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Gareth Barry with a cross.

75:21 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Everton 1, Manchester City 1. Jesús Navas (Manchester City) left footed shot from the left side of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Sergio Agüero with a through ball following a fast break.

74:20

Corner, Everton. Conceded by Nicolás Otamendi.

74:19

Attempt blocked. Leighton Baines (Everton) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Leon Osman.

71:28

Attempt blocked. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

70:34

David Silva (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

70:34

Foul by Muhamed Besic (Everton).

69:42

Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Joel Robles.

69:40

Attempt saved. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Sergio Agüero.

68:18

Corner, Everton. Conceded by Martín Demichelis.

67:29 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Everton. Kevin Mirallas replaces Gerard Deulofeu.

66:11

Attempt saved. Ross Barkley (Everton) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Muhamed Besic.

65:08

Attempt blocked. Yaya Touré (Manchester City) right footed shot from long range on the left is blocked. Assisted by Kevin De Bruyne.

64:58

Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by John Stones.

64:09

Corner, Everton. Conceded by Willy Caballero.

64:08

Attempt saved. Ross Barkley (Everton) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

63:01

Attempt saved. Fernandinho (Manchester City) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Jesús Navas with a cross.

62:41

Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Leighton Baines.

62:39

Attempt blocked. Sergio Agüero (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.

61:49

Attempt missed. Sergio Agüero (Manchester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left.

59:54

Offside, Manchester City. Gaël Clichy tries a through ball, but Kevin De Bruyne is caught offside.

58:47

Offside, Everton. Leighton Baines tries a through ball, but Leon Osman is caught offside.

57:26

Attempt missed. Gaël Clichy (Manchester City) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left.

53:13 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Manchester City. Jesús Navas replaces Fabian Delph.

51:29

Attempt saved. Muhamed Besic (Everton) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by John Stones.

50:15 Booking

Booking Fabian Delph (Manchester City) is shown the yellow card.

49:46

Offside, Everton. Ross Barkley tries a through ball, but Romelu Lukaku is caught offside.

48:28

Offside, Everton. Leighton Baines tries a through ball, but Ross Barkley is caught offside.

47:37

Offside, Everton. Gerard Deulofeu tries a through ball, but Romelu Lukaku is caught offside.

45:34

Foul by Fabian Delph (Manchester City).

45:34

Gerard Deulofeu (Everton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

45:00

Second Half begins Everton 1, Manchester City 0.

45:00 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Manchester City. Martín Demichelis replaces Eliaquim Mangala.

45:00 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Everton. Leon Osman replaces Tom Cleverley.

45:00 +2:41 Half time

Half Time First Half ends, Everton 1, Manchester City 0.

45:00 +2:10

Offside, Manchester City. Nicolás Otamendi tries a through ball, but Sergio Agüero is caught offside.

45:00 +0:56 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Everton 1, Manchester City 0. Ramiro Funes Mori (Everton) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal following a corner.

45:00 +0:54

Attempt saved. Ross Barkley (Everton) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Gareth Barry.

45:00 +0:37

Corner, Everton. Conceded by Bacary Sagna.

45:00 +0:07

Corner, Everton. Conceded by Eliaquim Mangala.

44:12

Attempt missed. Fernandinho (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Gaël Clichy.

42:01

Attempt blocked. Sergio Agüero (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.

41:59

Attempt saved. Sergio Agüero (Manchester City) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

41:05

Offside, Everton. Gerard Deulofeu tries a through ball, but Romelu Lukaku is caught offside.

35:57

Offside, Everton. Leighton Baines tries a through ball, but Gareth Barry is caught offside.

34:53

Foul by Fernandinho (Manchester City).

34:53

Ross Barkley (Everton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

32:18

Attempt missed. David Silva (Manchester City) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Yaya Touré.

28:02

Attempt missed. Sergio Agüero (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right following a corner.

27:34

Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Leighton Baines.

22:53

Attempt missed. Nicolás Otamendi (Manchester City) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Kevin De Bruyne with a cross following a corner.

22:34

Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Leighton Baines.

20:54

Foul by Fernandinho (Manchester City).

20:54

Leighton Baines (Everton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

19:12

Corner, Everton. Conceded by Nicolás Otamendi.

18:25

Attempt missed. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) right footed shot from more than 35 yards misses to the right.

14:00

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

12:29

Delay in match Ross Barkley (Everton) because of an injury.

7:48

Offside, Manchester City. Nicolás Otamendi tries a through ball, but Sergio Agüero is caught offside.

5:01

Eliaquim Mangala (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

5:01

Foul by Ross Barkley (Everton).

3:35

Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Ramiro Funes Mori.

2:53

Yaya Touré (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

2:53

Foul by Muhamed Besic (Everton).

2:20

Attempt blocked. Fabian Delph (Manchester City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Kevin De Bruyne.

1:35

Foul by Muhamed Besic (Everton).

1:35

David Silva (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

0:00

First Half begins.

0:00

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

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