Manchester City's Matheus Nunes scored deep in injury time to salvage a crucial 2-1 Premier League victory over Aston Villa on Tuesday (Apr 22) in their breathless chase for a Champions League berth next season. 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. 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.
Matheus Nunes scored in the 94th minute to give Manchester City a priceless victory over fellow top-five contenders Aston Villa at Etihad Stadium and move third in the battle for a Champions League place.
What could be a preview of next month's FA Cup final looked set to end level as City struggled to find a way through the Villa defence after Marcus Rashford cancelled out Bernardo Silva's early opener from the penalty spot.
But, in the fourth minute of five added on, substitute Jeremy Doku skipped past Axel Disasi down the left, then delivered a brilliant low cross with the outside of his right boot which rolled perfectly through the six-yard box for Nunes, who drilled his first Premier League goal of the season into the bottom corner.
It was a familiar feeling for Villa, who have now lost an incredible 15 successive league games at Manchester City.
The importance of the goal was shown in the celebrations of manager Pep Guardiola at full-time, who hugged Nunes in delight, then made his way round the rest of his squad before saluting the home fans.
Man City are now third in the table, four points clear of Villa and Chelsea, who have a game in hand and remain just outside the top five. And crucially, while City's run-in includes matches against Wolverhampton Wanderers and relegated Southampton, Chelsea must play Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest.
