Manchester City 2, Aston Villa 1
Matheus Nunes scored an injury time winner as Manchester City secured a crucial win against Aston Villa in the race for next season’s Champions League.
It had been looking like the Villans were going to secure a crucial point after Marcus Rashford’s penalty had cancelled out Bernardo Silva’s early goal but the win has given City a big advantage in the race for a place in the Champions League next term.
Rashford also hit the post after just 18 seconds after City were caught on the hop by an early ball over the top.
Regardless of the early scare City took the lead after 7 minutes when Omar Marmoush’s ball into the area was cleared only as far as Bernardo Silva, whose powerful rising shot was too hot to handle for Emiliano Martinez, for only his fourth goal of the season.
City were in the ascendancy and it came as a shock to them when a challenge by Ruben Dias on Jacob Ramsey was brought back following a VAR review and referee Craig Pawson changed his original decision to award a penalty for Villa.
United loanee Marcus Rashford stepped up and levelled the scores after 18 minutes – his 6th goal against City and 4th for Villa.
City picked holes in Villa’s defence but the visitors stood firm despite heavy pressure from the home side, especially on set pieces.
But just as City looked set to accept a point substitute Jeremy Doku popped up on the left wing to deliver a low cross to the back post behind the Villa defence and Matheus Nunes was there at the back post to tap in a famous winner that put City into 3rd place – 4 points clear of Aston Villa and Chelsea outside the Champions League places.
Embed from Getty ImagesPLAYER RATINGS – Manchester City 2, Aston Villa 1
Stefan Ortega: 6. Gratefully smothered the rebound after Marcus Rashford hit the post. Rushed off his line but beaten by Rashford in the second half but the Villa striker could only hit the side netting from very acute angle.
Matheus Nunes: 6. Looked more comfortable at right back. Comfortable enough to gallop upfield and score a late winner for City.
Ruben Dias: 6. Turned inside out by Marcus Rashford’s run onto Youri Tielemens’ through ball and gave away a penalty against Jacob Ramsey. Volleyed shot blocked.
Josko Gvardiol: 6. Solid defending. Headed over a corner late in the game.
Nico O’Reilly: 7. Used his physicality well. One good rampaging run through midfield halted by Morgan Rogers. Cross from the left deserved a better finish from James McAtee. Stopped Marcus Rashford from getting the drop on him when he switched to his side and athletic run back stopped a Villa attack in the closing minutes.
Ilkay Gundogan: 6. Pushed upfield without much effect against Villa.
Mateo Kovacic: 6. Got stuck in. A couple of long range shots saved by Martinez.
Bernardo Silva: 7. Could not pass up the chance to shoot after a poor clearance fell to him and he opened the scoring. Mopped up well in midfield but tired later.
Kevin De Bruyne: 6. Header saved by Emiliano Martinez. Some good passes, including an well weighted ball to release James McAtee.
James McAtee: 6. Wide right role. Chip from wide left dropped wide of the back post in the second half. Miscued a glorious chance to score when presented with the ball by Nico O’Reilly.
Omar Marmoush: 6. Pushed wide open the left and produced moments of pace up against Matty Cash and Emiliano Martinez. Pressed hard and had the ball in the back of the net but was ruled offside by semi automated VAR.
Jeremy Doku (on for James McAtee, 74): 6. Great late run but little backup and lost the chance to shoot.
Manuel Akanji (on for Kevin De Bruyne, 90+5): No time to mark
GOALS – Manchester City 2, Aston Villa 1
Man City 1, Aston Villa 0: 7. Bernardo Silva strikes early after his powerful shot was too hot to handle for Emiliano Martinez after Omar Marmoush’s cutback was cleared only as far as him.
Man City 1, Aston Villa 1: 18. A pregnant pause during a penalty run up by Marcus Rashford who waited for Stefan Ortega to commit to his right before slotting into opposite corner – boos ring out at the Etihad for the Manchester United loanee.
Man City 2, Aston Villa 1: 90+4. Matheus Nunes was there at the back post to tap in from 3 yards out after Jeremy Doku skipped past Axel Disasi to deliver a low cross behind the Aston Villa defence.
MATCH STATS – Manchester City 2, Aston Villa 1
Man City: Ortega, Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly, Gundogan, Kovacic, Silva, De Bruyne (C) (Akanji 90+5), McAtee (Doku 74), Marmoush
Man City Subs not used: Carson, Grealish, Nico, Savinho, Khusanov, Foden, Lewis
Bookings: Gvardiol 70 (foul on Youri Tielemens); Nunes 77 (foul on John McGinn); Silva 86
Manager Booking: Pep Guardiola (dissent)
Goals: Silva 7; Nunes 90+4
Aston Villa: Martinez (C), Cash (Disasi 61), Konsa, Torres, Digne, Kamara, Onana (Ascensio 76), Rogers (Malen 86), Tielemens, Ramsey (McGinn 61), Rashford (Watkins 76)
Aston Villa Subs not used: Olsen, Barkley, Garcia, Maatsen
Bookings: Digne 35 (foul on Kevin De Bruyne); Rogers 50 (foul on Nico O’Reilly); Watkins 85 (foul on Ruben Dias)
Goal: Rashford pen 18
Referee: Craig Pawson