*Winger provides goal and assist in crucial 2-1 away win over Nottingham Forest.*
A moment of late brilliance from Rayan Cherki secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory for Manchester City over Nottingham Forest on Saturday, propelling the champions to the top of the Premier League standings.
The match at the City Ground was a tense affair, bursting into life after a quiet first half. Cherki was the catalyst, slicing open the Forest defense just three minutes after the restart to set up Tijjani Reijnders for the opening goal.
Forest responded swiftly, with new signing Omari Hutchinson equalizing six minutes later to send the home crowd into a frenzy. With the game headed for a draw, Cherki emerged as the match-winner, meeting a loose ball from a set-piece in the 83rd minute and hammering a decisive half-volley into the net.
“We had to dig deep today,” said City manager Pep Guardiola after the match. “Forest made it very difficult, but Rayan showed his quality at the crucial moment. That’s what top players do.”
The vital three points move City one point clear of Arsenal at the summit, applying pressure on their rivals ahead of their evening fixture. For Nottingham Forest, the valiant effort yields no reward, leaving them in 17th place and in a precarious position near the relegation zone.
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