Matheus Nunes emerged as the hero at the Etihad Stadium, netting a dramatic 94th-minute winner to seal a vital 2-1 victory for Manchester City over Aston Villa and keep their Champions League hopes burning bright.
For most of the evening, it seemed the visitors would frustrate Pep Guardiola’s side and leave with a point. But Nunes had other plans, arriving at the far post to slot home Jeremy Doku’s pinpoint delivery and ignite scenes of jubilation.
City had drawn first blood early in the contest. Just seven minutes in, Bernardo Silva powered in a strike after Omar Marmoush surged down the left and pulled the ball back perfectly from the byline.
Aston Villa responded swiftly. Ten minutes later, they were awarded a contentious penalty after Ruben Dias was penalized for a challenge on Jacob Ramsey.
Despite City’s protests and Guardiola receiving a booking during the VAR review, Marcus Rashford confidently converted, “The visitors were level through Marcus Rashford 10 minutes later with a controversial penalty after Ruben Dias was adjudged to have tripped Jacob Ramsey.”
The penalty decision triggered outrage in the stands, “Fans inside the stadium were furious when the replay was shown on the big screen while Pep Guardiola was booked for his protest, but Rashford made no mistake from the spot.”
City pressed hard for a winner, dominating much of the first half with Marmoush and James McAtee threatening.
Kevin De Bruyne’s corners kept Villa’s defense under pressure after the break, while Nico O’Reilly and McAtee came close to restoring the lead.
Villa, who crashed out of the Champions League a week earlier to Paris Saint-Germain, showed intent from the first whistle. They nearly scored within seconds as Rashford struck the post, the rebound falling kindly for Stefan Ortega Moreno.
Despite the momentum swinging City’s way, Villa’s counterattacks kept things tense. Rashford found space on two occasions but failed to trouble Ortega with his efforts.
City had a golden opportunity to catch Villa on the break after a dangerous free-kick. McAtee led the charge, beautifully lifting a shot over Emiliano Martinez, only to see it miss by inches.
He then nearly met O’Reilly’s driven cross but couldn’t get the decisive touch.
There was more drama as Marmoush found the net late on, but his effort was correctly ruled offside by VAR.
City turned to Doku to spark something in the dying moments, and he delivered. The Belgian winger surged into space and drilled a low cross that Nunes converted with sharp instinct and composure, “Doku came on to try to make a late impact and he conjured up a late twist. He drove a low centre across the Villa box which Nunes turned in at the far post from a tight angle to send the Etihad wild.”
The result couldn’t have come at a better time, with the race for the top five as fierce as ever. Only three points separated third from seventh going into this game, underlining the importance of every win in the final stretch.
Looking ahead, City switch focus to the FA Cup. They face Nottingham Forest at Wembley on Sunday, 27 April, with kickoff set for 16:30 (UK). Guardiola’s men will be aiming for a third consecutive appearance in the final.
