Everton 2 Man City 1: Osman’s flying header seals victory
Leon Osman's brave header secured three points for Everton after Yaya Toure had given City the lead
Second-half headers from Sylvain Distin and Leon Osman helped Everton come from behind to beat Manchester City at Goodison Park.
Yaya Toure had given Roberto Mancini’s men the lead mid-way through the first half, but Distin nodded home Mikel Arteta’s free-kick to level the scores before Osman’s angled header from Phil Neville’s cross won it for the Toffees.
Mancini’s side looked determined to take another crucial step towards securing Champions League football for next season and were dominant in the first half, with Spain international Silva looking dangerous floating behind Edin Dzeko.
Patrick Vieira wasted City’s first opportunity as the former France international blasted an attempt over the crossbar following excellent work by Silva on the right wing.
Vieira’s midfield colleague, Yaya Toure, was more clinical and the Ivory Coast international opened the scoring after 27 minutes.
Silva collected the ball on the edge of Everton’s area and artfully avoided Distin’s lunging challenge. The 25-year-old then threaded a pass to Toure, who calmly slotted his finish past Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard.
David Moyes’ men started the second half showing a hunger absent in the first. Jack Rodwell’s reckless lunge on Nigel de Jong warranted a caution but it eptimoised the fighting spirit which the Everton boss had evoked in his team during the interval.
The home side drew level on 66 minutes after taking advantage of sloppy City defending. Arteta’s free-kick found Distin, who guided his header past Joe Hart.
Osman then grabbed the winner in the 72nd minute when he out-jumped Vincent Kompany and met Neville’s chipped cross to send his flying header past a despairing Hart.
Everton captain Neville and Mancini exchanged heated words at the full-time whistle but the home supporters’ eyes were on Moyes, who was visibly thrilled by the result.
