Villa Park upsets halt City's seven-game winning run
Nicolas Jackson scored twice as Aston Villa defeated Manchester City 2-1, ending a perfect start and keeping Arsenal in the title race.
By Noah Rao ·
Manchester City’s perfect start to the Premier League season collapsed at Villa Park on Saturday, as Nicolas Jackson scored both goals in a 2-1 victory for Aston Villa. The result marks the first league defeat for the visitors this campaign and breaks a streak of seven consecutive wins under manager Enzo Maresca.
The match began with a defensive lapse from City. In the sixth minute, Marc Guehi committed a heavy touch that allowed Jackson to receive the ball. The forward cut inside past Elliott Anderson and fired a high shot past goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to give Villa the lead.
City dominated possession for the remainder of the first half, but Villa goalkeeper Zion Suzuki made repeated saves to keep the score level. Efforts from Iliman Ndiaye, Rayan Cherki, and Abdukodir Khusanov were all denied, and Ndiaye struck the post late in the opening 45 minutes.
The deadlock lasted until the 52nd minute when Erling Haaland headed home a cross from Ndiaye. The strike was his 13th goal in just 10 appearances this season. Moments later, Josko Gvardiol had a chance to equalize, but Suzuki pushed his powerful drive onto the crossbar.
Villa regained the lead on the hour mark. Ibrahim Mbaye found space behind the City defense and crossed to Jackson, whose low finish slipped past Donnarumma. City pressed for a late equalizer but could not overcome Villa’s defense.
The win lifts Aston Villa to sixth place in the table, marking their sixth victory in seven matches across all competitions. It also offers Arsenal a chance to level the points tally at the top of the league if they defeat Everton later on Saturday.
Manager Unai Emery’s squad has undergone major changes since their Europa League final last season. Six players who started in that match have departed, but new signings like Jackson, Suzuki, Mbaye, and Johan Manzambi have provided immediate impact. City, meanwhile, continue their season while appealing a guilty verdict on over 100 financial charges from 2009 to 2018, a case that could result in sanctions including relegation.
Source: Al Jazeera
