Strike it rich /Rooney’s 200th Premier goal earns Everton point

MANCHESTER CITY

Sterling 82

EVERTON

Rooney 35

1

Wayne Rooney scored his 200th Premier League goal but Raheem Sterling came off the bench to snatch a 1-1 draw for Manchester City against Everton.

In a frantic contest in which both sides were reduced to ten men, Rooney’s second goal since rejoining the Toffees looked to have earned victory after Kyle Walker was harshly sent off.

City responded in the second half and substitute Sterling volleyed a fine 82ndminute equaliser before Everton’s Morgan Schneiderlin also saw red.

City may feel the result was the least they deserved after controversy erupted before half-time when Walker was ruled to have floored Dominic Calvert-lewin.

It was a breathless contest, one that underlined preseason optimism at Everton after their summer outlay – with record signing Gylfi Sigurdsson heldbackuntil the second half.

The fireworks even started before the game as the players

0 Wayne Rooney celebrates after putting Everton ahead in the 35th minute at the Etihad Stadium last night. arrived on to the pitch to a flurry of pyrotechnics.

Rooney’s historic goal came in the 35th minute. The former England captain latched on to a pull-back with a first-time shot that Ederson failed to keep out with his feet.

Rooney raced away cupping his ears in celebration, clearly enjoying a landmark moment.

Moments later came the game’s major flashpoint as Calvert-lewin and Walker came together under a high ball and the Everton man fell to the ground. Referee Robert Madley deemed Walker, who had his back to Calvert-lewin, the aggressor and showed a quick second yellow.

It took some time for City to break down the Everton rearguard but, as the game moved into the latter stages, Sterling came to the fore.

He fired one shot narrowly over after a powerful run and was wasteful with another opportunity from close range before finally making a firm connection to level the scores eight minutes from time.

City pushed to the end for a winner but to no avail, though there was still time for drama when Schneiderlin earned a second yellow card for a foul on Sergio Aguero.