AFCON 2025
Manchester City’s hope of playing Champions League football next season received a boost as the defending champions edged Aston Villa at the Etihad.
Despite scoring first in the match, the Cityzens were perched back by a familiar foe Marcus Rashford.
Bernardo Silva put Manchester City ahead just seven minutes into the match as he fired a rebound into the net.
Manchester City’s lead lasted for about ten minutes before they conceded a penalty.
Marcus Rashford stepped up and waited for Ortega to commit before slotting the ball into the bottom right corner.
The Manchester United loanee, though in a Villa shirt, played as though it was the Manchester derby.
Rashford almost doubled the lead with a brilliant strike towards goal but Ortega was alert to deny the forward.
Manchester City created better chances in the second half, but Emiliano Martinez, in between the sticks, stopped every attempt from the home team.
Having defended quite well in the match, a Jeremy Doku’s trivela pass to the far post to Matheus Nunes dashed the hearts of the visitors as the Portuguese midfielder smashed the ball into an empty net in the 93rd minute.
Manchester City are on course to qualify for the Champions League next season as they sit third on the log with 61 points.
