Manchester City left it late but secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Aston Villa on Tuesday night to strengthen their grip on a top-four finish in the Premier League. With the match heading for a draw, Matheus Nunes pounced on a low cross from Jérémy Doku in the 94th minute to clinch three crucial points for Pep Guardiola’s side at the Etihad Stadium.
Bernardo Silva had opened the scoring early on after a swift break involving Omar Marmoush, but City’s lead was short-lived. A VAR decision saw Rúben Dias penalized for a challenge on Jacob Ramsey, and Marcus Rashford—on loan from Manchester United—converted the resulting penalty to level matters.
Despite dominating possession and creating multiple chances, City looked set for a frustrating night until Nunes struck from a tight angle, sparking wild celebrations from Guardiola. The goal marked Nunes’ first in the league for City and came at a pivotal time, lifting them to third with 61 points, albeit having played more games than their immediate rivals.
Guardiola, visibly emotional after the final whistle, admitted he’s unaccustomed to such last-minute wins, noting the contrast with teams like Liverpool and Arsenal who frequently clinch late victories.
“It’s a rare feeling for us,” the City boss said. “But we are thrilled. The players gave everything and now we’re in control of our destiny in the race for the Champions League.”
Aston Villa, still reeling from a recent Champions League exit, put in a valiant shift but were undone in the closing moments. The defeat leaves them seventh, two points behind fifth place, with four matches left to play.
Unai Emery, though disappointed, praised his team’s performance and urged a swift rebound ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup semifinal against Crystal Palace.
