Haaland Misses Penalty and Man City Drops More Points after 1-1 Draw with Everton

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City v Everton - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - December 26, 2024 Manchester City's Erling Haaland has his penalty saved by Everton's Jordan Pickford Action Images via Reuters/Craig Brough
Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City v Everton - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - December 26, 2024 Manchester City's Erling Haaland has his penalty saved by Everton's Jordan Pickford Action Images via Reuters/Craig Brough
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Haaland Misses Penalty and Man City Drops More Points after 1-1 Draw with Everton

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City v Everton - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - December 26, 2024 Manchester City's Erling Haaland has his penalty saved by Everton's Jordan Pickford Action Images via Reuters/Craig Brough
Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City v Everton - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - December 26, 2024 Manchester City's Erling Haaland has his penalty saved by Everton's Jordan Pickford Action Images via Reuters/Craig Brough

Erling Haaland missed a penalty as Manchester City was held 1-1 by Everton in the Premier League on Thursday.

Haaland had the chance to set the four-time defending champion on course for only its second win in 13 games when stepping up for a 53rd minute spot kick at the Etihad Stadium. But he was denied by Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford as City's woeful recent run was extended, The Associated Press reported.

Pep Guardiola's team has lost nine of its last 13 games in all competitions. The draw means City picked up only its fifth point in the league since the end of October.

Bernardo Silva's deflected shot gave City the lead in the 14th, but Iliman Ndiaye leveled the score in the 36th.

The result leaves City sixth in the standings and 11 points behind leader Liverpool, having played two games more.

Haaland missed penalty means the Norway international has only scored one in his last seven games. He headed in from the rebound, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

City's grip on its title was further loosened by more dropped points. Liverpool had the chance to extend its lead over the champion when playing Leicester in the later kick off.



Rybakina Takes Kazakhstan Past Spain in United Cup Debut

Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan in action against Jessica Bouzas Maneiro of Spain during the United Cup day one match between Kazakhstan and Spain at RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, 27 December 2024. (EPA)
Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan in action against Jessica Bouzas Maneiro of Spain during the United Cup day one match between Kazakhstan and Spain at RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, 27 December 2024. (EPA)
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Rybakina Takes Kazakhstan Past Spain in United Cup Debut

Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan in action against Jessica Bouzas Maneiro of Spain during the United Cup day one match between Kazakhstan and Spain at RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, 27 December 2024. (EPA)
Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan in action against Jessica Bouzas Maneiro of Spain during the United Cup day one match between Kazakhstan and Spain at RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, 27 December 2024. (EPA)

Elena Rybakina guided Kazakhstan to a 2-1 victory against Spain in her United Cup debut at the RAC Arena in Perth on Friday.

The world number six defeated Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-2 6-3 in the singles and then combined with Alexander Shevchenko to clinch the deciding mixed doubles.

Kazakhstan can qualify for the quarter-finals of the 18-nation mixed teams event by beating Greece in their second Group C match on Monday.

Former world number 10 Pablo Carreno Busta swept aside Shevchenko 6-2 6-1 in little over an hour to put Spain ahead before Rybakina, playing her first match since hiring Goran Ivanisevic as coach for the season, pulled Kazakhstan level.

The 25-year-old raced to a 4-0 lead before Bouzas Maneiro could put up some sort of resistance to win the next two games. Rybakina soon asserted herself again and broke her opponent at love to take the opening set.

The Kazakh fired a series of backhand winners for a similar 4-2 lead in the second set and Bouzas Maneiro held three break points at 5-3 before Rybakina's power game prevailed.

"The first match is always difficult," former Wimbledon champion Rybakina said.

"It's not easy to get used that quick but I'm pretty happy with the way I played today."

She was soon back on court alongside Shevchenko to score a 7-6(4) 6-7(2) 10-7 win against Yvonne Cavalle-Reimers and Carreno Busta.

"If 'Lena' wasn't carrying me to this match we would lose ... Thanks to her," Shevchenko said.

Group E action begins in the second session with Brazil facing a China side depleted by the withdrawal of Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen, who opted to rest ahead of the Australian Open.