City slip up at Everton

Superb second-half headers from Sylvain Distin and Leon Osman frustrated Manchester City in their Champions League quest as they lost 2-1 at Everton.

The FA Cup finalists looked on course for a potentially decisive win in their pursuit of a top-four place as Yaya Toure put them ahead.

The visitors squandered several chances to make victory safe and were stunned when former City defender Distin equalised and in-form midfielder Osman grabbed a winner.

City asserted themselves early on, although Everton had the first chance when Osman fired over. David Silva went close for City after brilliantly controlling a hopeful punt from Vincent Kompany and beating Tony Hibbert to shoot across goal.

He showed more skill when he tapped a James Milner cross into the six-yard box, but Patrick Vieira volleyed over.

Silva was again the orchestrator when the deadlock was broken after 28 minutes, although he benefited from a lucky ricochet as he took the ball past Distin. He then found Toure unmarked to his right and he powered forward to score.

Edin Dzeko tested Tim Howard with a fierce shot from the edge of the area before Silva created another good chance for Toure when he threaded a low ball into the area, only for the former Barcelona midfielder to side-foot over.

Dzeko then headed wide from an Aleksandar Kolarov free-kick as City built more pressure. City remained in control and Dzeko struck a firm shot wide from the edge of the area.

But the visitors paid the price for their profligacy as Everton equalised in the 66th minute through Distin. From a Mikel Arteta free-kick Distin rose at the far post to power a header into the bottom corner.

The goal infused Everton and the Toffees grabbed a second in the 72nd minute. Phil Neville delivered an inviting cross into the area and Osman timed his leap superbly, beating Kompany in the air and glancing a looping header over Joe Hart into the top corner.