City Go Third After Dramatic Late Strike By Nunes Vs Villa

Pep Guardiola admitted his wild celebration of Matheus Nunes's stoppage-time winner against Aston Villa felt strange because Manchester City don't score as many late goals as their Premier League rivals.

- Agencies

MANCHESTER:

Nunes fired City to a crucial 2-1 victory over top-five rivals Villa in the fourth minute of stoppage-time at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday.

Guardiola responded to Nunes's composed finish from an acute angle by launching into a frenzied fist-pumping dance of joy including a primal roar that underlined the significance of the result.

City had been seconds away from a damaging result in the race to qualify for the Champions League via a top five finish.

But now they control their own fate with four games left in their turbulent league season, thanks to an unusual feeling of last-gasp success.

"We're not used to it. That belongs to Liverpool especially, how many times did they score late winners under Jurgen (Klopp) and Arsenal under Mikel (Arteta) as well? I'm not used to it, so I'm really, really happy," Guardiola said.