Man City 3 - 2 Aston Villa: Fernandinho seals City win in Villa thriller

25/4/15 Aston Villa's Fabian Delph in action with Manchester City's Jesus Navas Action Images via Reuters

Fernandinho claimed a dramatic 89th-minute winning goal for Manchester City to secure a 3-2 victory over Aston Villa on Saturday, a result which could have major ramifications at both ends of the Premier League.

It was the second goal in four minutes at Eastlands after Carlos Sanchez appeared to have earned FA Cup finalists Villa a priceless point when he was on hand to skilfully hook the ball into the goal from 12 yards after City goalkeeper Joe Hart had failed to deal with a Charles N'Zogbia corner.

But with normal time running out, Aleksandar Kolarov's left-wing corner passed through a crowded Villa area and reached the unmarked Fernandinho, who took a controlling touch before scoring with an acrobatic half-volley.

Sergio Aguero, with his 21st league goal of the season, and Kolarov had previously been on target for Manuel Pellegrini's side although, after Tom Cleverley had pulled a goal back for Villa, the visitors looked well capable of escaping with at least a point.

Victory saw reigning champions City climb into second place, nine points behind Chelsea but having played two games more than Jose Mourinho's leaders.

City were gifted the lead in the third minute following an extraordinary error by the United States goalkeeper Brad Guzan, who panicked in receiving a back-pass from Ron Vlaar as the home side pressed high up the field.

Guzan succeeded only in mis-hitting a square pass across the face of goal directly to Aguero, who was left with the routine task of tapping the ball into an open goal from six yards.

It was hardly a start in keeping with the recent form shown by Villa under manager Tim Sherwood that has left them with a genuine chance of avoiding relegation, along with a place in the FA Cup final following last week's semi-final victory over Liverpool.

Guzan, who has surrendered his starting place to veteran deputy Shay Given in the FA Cup, then flapped embarrassingly at a Kolarov free-kick in the 16th minute with Fernando heading just wide of a gaping goal.

City, playing with a confidence that has been lacking for much of the year to date, also threatened with Yaya Toure volleying just wide from the edge of the area and Guzan smothering an Aguero shot.

But Villa responded impressively to a nervy start with Christian Benteke heading over from a Jack Grealish cross and the Belgium striker then being denied by the legs of Joe Hart after latching onto Vlaar's deflected shot.

- Toure taken off -

Toure, whose future at the Etihad has been the subject of much speculation during a disappointing title defence, was replaced at half-time, apparently because of injury, and Frank Lampard exited early in the second half as Pellegrini attempted to gain control of midfield.

It scarcely worked, although Aguero had strong claims for a penalty turned down, and had Fabian Delph's 18-yard snapshot been a foot to the left after 55 minutes, Villa might have had an equaliser.

Finally, after 65 minutes, Villa's discipline wavered with Carlos Sanchez upending Fernandinho, earning a caution in the process and presenting Kolarov with a free-kick 22 yards from goal.

The City left-back curled a brilliant shot, through a gap in the wall left by Leandro Bacuna and Kieran Richardson, and past Guzan's desperate dive.

Villa's response was swift and impressive, however, as they reduced arrears from a Grealish free-kick just two minutes later.

Eliaquim Mangala and goalkeeper Hart failed to communicate properly, with the defender heading to the edge of his area where, after Fernando and Milner failed to clear, Cleverley was on hand to lash an 18-yard shot into the goal.

In the frantic finale, Villa seemed about to claim a winner with the game tied as N'Zogbia and Christian Benteke broke upfield but the latter was flagged for offside with only Hart to beat - a decision that proved all the more significant given Fernandinho's winner followed within seconds.

Athletics
Kenya hoping to defend World Cross Country title in Belgrade
Football
Fifa threatens Kenya with ban again
Unique Sports
SCHOOLS: Lenana School, Kisumu Girls and Agoro Sare turn focus on national games finals
Motorsport
Safari Rally: 29 drivers set for epic showdown as Safari Rally zooms off