Late Manchester City Strike Secures Win Against Villa
Manchester City’s Matheus Nunes scored deep in injury time to salvage a crucial 2-1 Premier League victory against Aston Villa on Tuesday, in their chase for a UEFA Champions League spot next season.
City went ahead in the seventh minute when Omar Marmoush raced by Villa right back Matty Cash, before cutting the ball back for an onrushing Bernado Silva.
Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez got his gloves on the ball, but not enough to stop it from sailing into the back of the net.
Forward Marcus Rashford, who had a shot clatter off the post 18 seconds into the game, pulled Villa level from the penalty spot in the 18th minute, after VAR determined Ruben Dias clipped Jacob Ramsey from behind with his right leg.
The England striker calmly sent keeper Stefan Ortega the wrong way before slotting home to equalise.
City had 14 shots to Villa’s seven before clinching a deserved victory.
The teams appeared to be heading for a draw after Marcus Rashford’s penalty cancelled out Bernardo Silva’s goal in the first half, but Nunes fired home Jeremy Doku’s cross in the 94th minute to lift City two places to third in the table on 61 points.
Nunes brought the City fans to their feet with his first league goal for the team with the last shot of the game, when Doku drove down the left-hand side and squared the ball for Nunes arriving at the back post.
Guardiola vigorously shook two fists in celebration, while Villa manager Unai Emery was left stunned.
“We are not used to (scoring late winners), so I’m really, really happy for the goal that we scored at the end,” Guardiola said after the match.
“Because we are in the last four or five games and a Champions League contender for qualification,”
Pep Guardiola’s men, however, have played one more game than the three teams directly behind them, while Villa, who have lost 15 successive games at the Etihad Stadium, remained seventh on 57 points in the crowded top of the table.
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