Matheus Nunes scored a thrilling 94th-minute winner to help City secure a critical three points in the Champions League campaign with a 2-1 victory over Aston Villa.
The visitors appeared to be heading out of the Etihad Stadium with a draw until the Portuguese converted Jeremy Doku’s low cross at the far post. City took the lead in the seventh minute when Bernardo Silva converted Omar Marmoush’s pull-back from the byline.
However, Marcus Rashford equalised 10 minutes later with a disputed penalty when Ruben Dias was adjudged to have tripped Jacob Ramsey.
Man City kept pushing for a winner, and it finally came when Nunes had exquisite time to steer in a late goal to give City an important win.
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.
“Football is emotion. For the fans, players, we have a lot of pressure for the club to go to the Champions League.
“The players behave unbelievable. We are so pleased. We’re in the last four games and we’re a Champions League contender for qualification.”
