Manchester City took a big step toward securing Champions League football next season with a 2-0 win over Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday, thanks to late goals from Nico O’Reilly and Mateo Kovacic.
City looked lackluster for much of the match, but O’Reilly broke the deadlock in the 84th minute by turning in a low cross from Matheus Nunes. Just minutes later, Kovacic sealed the win with a powerful strike from the edge of the box.
The victory moves Pep Guardiola’s side up to fourth in the Premier League, four points clear of sixth-placed Chelsea, and keeps their hopes of a top-five finish — which would guarantee Champions League qualification — firmly alive.
Despite dominating possession, City struggled to break down a resilient Everton defense until the late surge. Everton, meanwhile, missed key chances and saw James Tarkowski hit the post in the first half. The defender’s second-half injury marked a turning point, weakening the Toffees’ backline.
This was just Everton’s third loss in 15 league games under David Moyes, and they’ll need to wait a bit longer to secure their Premier League survival mathematically.
While Kevin De Bruyne showed flashes of brilliance, he was unable to make a significant impact. Stefan Ortega’s saves and missed opportunities from Everton, including a crucial one from Jarrad Branthwaite, kept the hosts from capitalizing.
City now have five matches left to finish strong in what has been a challenging season, but this win brings them one step closer to salvaging a top-tier European spot.