WAYNE ROONEY scored his 200th Premier League goal but Raheem Sterling saved a total eclipse of the Blue Moon.
Not only did the Manchester City boss see Rooney nail back-to-back league goals in his first two games since returning to Everton.
But he found himself dealing with another calamity keeper in Ederson.
And to make matters worse, £50million Kyle Walker was sent off on his home league debut for an offence he did not commit.
Rooney, back in Manchester for the first time since leaving Old Trafford, had barely touched the ball before he scored.
Everton broke fast after David Silva's shot hit a post and Dominic Calvert-Lewin cut the ball to him.
Rooney, already record scorer for England and United, brought up his double century with a left-footed daisy-cutter.
But in a repeat of last season's disasters involving Claudio Bravo the £35m man who replaced him let the ball slip through his legs.
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Just before the break, Walker saw red after being deemed by ref Robert Madley to have used an elbow on Calvert Lewin two minutes after he was booked for fouling Leighton Baines.
Yet the world’s most expensive defender, while be backed into the attacker, did not get physical in any way as TV replays proved.
He marched off the pitch in disgust having been shown a second yellow while Guardiola screamed in disbelief at the match officials.
Yet ten-man City hit back through Raheem Sterling's strike eight minutes from time to set up a tense finale with both sides going for the win.
And Everton chief Ronald Koeman saw Morgan Schneiderlin pick up a second yellow for a challenge on Aguero as the sides shared the points.
INTERACTIVE STATS – CLICK on the categories to find out how the teams fared
FACTS, STATS, GOALS & LOLS
- Rooney's 50th, 150th and 200th league goals have all come against Manchester City.
- Walker was sent off for the first time in the league in his 200th appearance.
- City are unbeaten in seven Premier League home matches against Everton, winning three and drawing four.
- Only Alan Shearer (11) has scored more league goals against the Citizens than Rooney (9).
- City lost their last Prem meeting with Everton 4-0. It was Guardiola’s heaviest ever defeat in league competition as a manager.
- Aguero has failed to score in his last six league appearances against Everton, his longest current drought versus a top-flight side.
- Before last season, Guardiola had beaten every club he’d faced in league competition within his first two meetings against them. Everton are now the first team he’s failed to beat in any of his first three matches.
- Rooney’s last away appearance in the Premier League for the Toffees was a 5-1 loss to City at the Etihad Stadium.
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INTERACTIVE LINE-UPS– CLICK on a player’s number below to see their stats
SOCIAL SAYS
WHAT THEY SAID
Everton goalscorer Wayne Rooney: "It's frustrating. Going one-nil up at half-time with the extra man we felt we could see the game out.
"But credit to City they made it difficult. before the game a point would have been a good result. In grand scheme it will be but a bit frustrating.
"The manager has made it clear he wants to play me in attacking positions. The thing for me is to play,. "Last year I didn’t play enough games and I paid the price for that. I played a lot of games over the last few weeks and I feel good.
"It was nice to score at the Etihad, I’ve scored a few times here. It was a sweet moment and I’m sure the red half of Manchester would have enjoyed that.
"Everton are showing their ambition. We’re trying to close the gap on the top teams."
City boss Pep Guardiola: "The second half we made a good performance, similar like last season when we played them here. We created the chances in the first half but we did not finish them. We have to try to create the chances.
"They made a good action. We have done everything, I don't know how many chances we created or how many they created.
"In the second half we made some tactical changes and created chances.
"I am pleased with all of them. We lost two points. We are here for the results, at the end we have to try to analyse the performance.
"It’s one of the most proud moments in my life seeing how we have done and the way we have done. Ten against 11, a Europa League team, top quality players, we tried.
"We missed some chances at the end. Even though we scored we could not win."
Asked about Walker's red card: "Next question."
Everton boss Ronald Koeman: "Rooney had a big impact in the final result.
"I feel disappointed. I think we had problems in keeping the ball and we played too fast the long ball.
"But we controlled it well and tactical plan was outstanding. We worked really hard for a good result.
"Schneiderlin was more clear for me, in my opinion, he played the ball.
"The Walker incident was doubtful but Guardiola told me it was not. I know him really well and I have to believe him.
"We are looking for a left-footed central defender. Maybe back up for Leighton.
"Also a striker. Even with Dominic and Ramirez’s talent. Look at other squads, if we want to make the next step we need another striker in."
DREAM TEAM RATINGS
MANCHESTER CITY: Ederson 5, Walker 4, Sane 6, Kompany 6, Stones, Aguero 6, De Bruyne 7, David Silva 7, Fernandinho 6, Otamendi 7, Gabriel Jesus 6. Subs: Sterling 7, Danilo 6, B Silva 6.
EVERTON: Pickford 6, Keane 6, Williams 7, Jagielka 6, Holgate 5, Baines 6, Schneiderlin 4, Gueye 6, Davies 6, Rooney 7, Calvert-Lewin 7. Subs: Klassen 5, Sigurdsson 6, Besic 6.