Late Heroics Lift City to Third as Top-Five Race Heats Up
In a thrilling encounter at the Etihad Stadium, Matheus Nunes became the hero for Manchester City, scoring his first Premier League goal for the club deep into stoppage time to snatch a dramatic 2-1 victory over Aston Villa. The result propels Pep Guardiola’s side into third place, tightening their grip on a coveted Champions League qualification spot, while Villa’s hopes took a hit as they now sit two points adrift with just four games left.
The match exploded into life from the very first whistle, with Aston Villa nearly taking the lead within 20 seconds as Marcus Rashford’s curling effort rattled the post after leaving Ruben Dias stranded. But it was City who struck first in the seventh minute, as Bernardo Silva powered a shot past Emiliano Martinez following a clever cutback from Omar Marmoush.
Villa fought back when VAR awarded them a penalty after Dias was adjudged to have fouled Jacob Ramsey in the box—a decision that sparked furious protests from City players and saw Guardiola earn a yellow card for his outburst. Rashford kept his cool from the spot, slotting home the equalizer in the 18th minute.
Despite relentless pressure from City for much of the game, Villa looked set to hold on for a crucial point in their own push for European football. But in the dying moments, substitute Jeremy Doku burst down the left flank and delivered a pinpoint cross for Nunes, who kept his composure to fire home from a tight angle, sending the Etihad into raptures.
The victory not only boosts City’s top-five ambitions but also deals a blow to Villa’s Champions League aspirations, with the race for Europe set to go down to the wire.
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