Matheus Nunes Seals Dramatic 94th-Minute Win for Man City

• Apr 23, 2025

Matheus Nunes scored a dramatic 94th-minute winner to help Manchester City edge past Aston Villa in a tense Premier League clash at the Etihad Stadium, boosting their hopes of Champions League qualification.

The match, which had the feel of a potential FA Cup final preview, looked set to end in a draw. Bernardo Silva had put City ahead early on, but Marcus Rashford equalized from the penalty spot, and Villa’s defense held firm for most of the game. With time running out, it took a moment of brilliance from substitute Jeremy Doku to break the deadlock.

Doku sprinted past Axel Disasi on the left wing and delivered a stunning low cross with the outside of his boot. The ball rolled perfectly across the six-yard box and found Nunes, who calmly slotted it into the bottom corner—his first league goal of the season. The Etihad erupted in celebration, and City manager Pep Guardiola hugged Nunes at full-time before applauding the home fans.

City’s win moves them up to third place, four points clear of both Aston Villa and Chelsea. While Chelsea have a game in hand, they still face tough fixtures against Newcastle and Nottingham Forest. Meanwhile, City’s run-in includes matches against Wolves and already-relegated Southampton.

Guardiola’s joy at the final whistle was in sharp contrast to his frustration earlier in the game. He was visibly upset at the penalty awarded to Villa when Ruben Dias brought down Jacob Ramsey. Guardiola was still shaking his head in disbelief as the replay aired at the start of the second half.

City had other chances to win it, including a close attempt from James McAtee that went just wide. The absence of injured stars Erling Haaland and Rodri was evident, and Guardiola knows how important it is to finish strong and secure a Champions League spot.

On the other side, Rashford’s journey stood out. After a difficult spell at Manchester United and being dropped by coach Ruben Amorim, his move to Villa has reignited his form and earned him a return to the England squad. Despite scoring from the spot and threatening with several chances, he couldn’t prevent Villa from falling to their 15th straight league defeat at the Etihad. As Rashford left the pitch to jeers from City fans, he simply applauded the Villa supporters, showing his focus is firmly on the road ahead.