Manchester City 1-1 Everton: Erling Haaland fails to convert a penalty, resulting in a disappointing draw for the champions against the Toffees.

**Haaland’s Penalty Woes as City Held to Draw by Everton**

In a gripping encounter at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester City were left frustrated as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Everton. The match saw Erling Haaland miss a crucial penalty, further compounding City’s recent struggles.

The home side started brightly, with Bernardo Silva putting City ahead just 14 minutes into the match. The Portuguese international expertly navigated the Everton defence to connect with a precise ball from Jeremy Doku, slotting it home from a tight angle. A deflection off Jarrad Branthwaite helped the ball find the back of the net, sending the City fans into raptures.

Despite their early lead, City failed to capitalise on their dominance. Silva came close to doubling the advantage shortly after, but his close-range effort sailed over the bar after a clever assist from Phil Foden. The missed opportunities would prove costly as Everton found their footing.

The Toffees equalised in the 36th minute, courtesy of Abdoulaye Doucoure’s deep cross. Iliman Ndiaye was on hand to meet the ball, striking it on the half-volley to find the top corner and silence the home crowd. The goal shifted the momentum, leaving City to regroup as they headed into the break.

After the interval, City were presented with a golden opportunity to regain the lead when referee Simon Hooper awarded a penalty after Savinho was brought down in the box by Vitalii Mykolenko. However, Haaland’s low shot was expertly saved by Jordan Pickford, and the Norwegian’s frustration deepened moments later when he was flagged offside after finding the net.

The draw extends Manchester City’s troubling run, with just one league victory in their last nine outings. Meanwhile, Everton will take some solace from securing their third consecutive draw, as they continue to battle for points in a challenging season.

As the final whistle blew, it was clear that both teams had left the pitch with mixed emotions. For City, the search for form continues, while Everton remains hopeful as they strive to improve their standing in the league.