It was a right-back who gave the sting they wanted in a over fellow chasers Aston Villa.
The tempo on the Etihad was frantic from the beginning as practically scored contained in the opening 17 seconds, nevertheless it was Metropolis who took the early lead as Bernardo Silva poked dwelling Omar Marmoush’s pullback on the byline.
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However Manchester native Rashford was on the scoresheet quickly after, coolly firing dwelling from the spot after introduced down Jacob Ramsey within the field. Neither aspect might discover the breakthrough in a high-quality, entertaining first half, and regardless of Metropolis piling on the stress after the break it regarded set to be heading for a draw.
Villa have conceded the second-most targets after 90 minutes within the league this season, solely fewer than backside aspect Southampton, and substitute and Matheus Nunes mixed to sentence the guests to a different late defeat.
The rightback slotted dwelling Doku’s good cross from the alternative channel at hand Metropolis all three factors and put a smile again on ’s face as they took one step additional to Champions League qualification.
Right here’s how the gamers rated within the conflict:
Manchester Metropolis
Stefan Ortega, 6
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Despatched the fallacious means by Rashford’s stop-start run for the penalty. In any other case not significantly examined. Withstood the problem from Rashford by way of on objective in direction of midway mark.
Matheus Nunes, 8
Stable on the again. Scored the last-gasp winner, darting into house at simply the proper time to obtain Doku’s ball and slot dwelling, sending Guardiola and the stadium into raptures.
Ruben Dias, 5
Conceded a reasonably delicate penalty by leaving his proper leg on Ramsey within the field. Struggled to comprise Rashford, had his pocket picked for a good probability halfway by way of the second half, however the angle was too tough for the striker.
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Josko Gvardiol, 6
A quiet night time by design however assured in clearing crosses and corners out of the field and composed sufficient to maintain Villa at bay when the contemporary legs of the substitute strikers had been launched.
Nico O’Reilly was electrical all through the night time and was a wonderful accomplice for Omar Marmoush (AFP through Getty Pictures)
Nico O’Reilly, 9
Picked up the place he left off towards Everton. Some nice crosses in for Marmoush, however the Egyptian wasn’t capable of do a lot with them, and left the ball on a plate for McAtee with 25 minutes to go, however he could not make contact.
Ilkay Gundogan, 6
A bit nameless, however with Kovacic, De Bruyne and Bernardo fashioned a good midfield unit that managed possession and compelled Villa to utilise their vast gamers to rise up the pitch.
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Mateo Kovacic, 6
An identical outing to Gundogan being tasked with holding possession and stopping counter assaults by way of the center. Took a number of photographs from vary to maintain Martinez trustworthy however a good if uninspiring night time.
Bernardo Silva, 8
Scored Metropolis’s opener, his first objective since Boxing Day towards Everton, with a candy run into house to fireplace dwelling from a number of yards out. Booked needlessly for dissent late on after Watkins fouled Dias.
Scored the opening objective after arriving within the field on the proper time (Motion Pictures through Reuters)
Kevin De Bruyne, 7
Not at his glowing greatest, however first rate. Took loads of corners as Metropolis dominated the second half, however not many to vastly hassle the villa defence or Martinez.Changed by Manuel Akanji on the 90+5 mark.
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James McAtee, 5
Some good crosses, however not so composed in entrance of objective, lacking a sitter when teed up fantastically by O’Reilly with Martinez underneath main stress halfway by way of the second half. Substituted for Jeremy Doku within the 74th minute.
Omar Marmoush, 8
A full of life presence. Made a stunning run to get the higher of Money and pull it again for Silva’s opener. Unfortunate to not prolong Metropolis’s lead a number of occasions, significantly with a wonderful end disallowed for offside with 10 minutes remaining.
Substitutes
Jeremy Doku, 8; Manuel Akanji n/a
Pep Guardiola was overjoyed on the last whistle (Getty Pictures)
Aston Villa
Emi Martinez, 5
Ought to have achieved higher with Metropolis’s opener, parrying it into his personal web. Fortunate to not be caught out by McAtee close to the hour mark, however his lob sailed over the unguarded web. Actually stored busy.
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Matty Money, 5
Had a troublesome time towards Marmoush and O’Reilly. Subbed for Chelsea loanee Axel Disasi within the 61st minute.
Ezri Konsa, 7
Robust on the again however ought to have cleared Marmoush’s cross that teed up Silva’s objective. Redeemed himself by clearing a unfastened ball from Marmoush once more that just about caught Martinez out, to keep away from going 2-1 down within the opening 20 minutes.
Emiliano Martinez fumbled the ball resulting in Bernardo Silva’s opening objective (AFP through Getty Pictures)
Pau Torres, 6
A robust accomplice to Konsa all through the sport and a commanding prescence on the again. Villa defended strongly for many of the recreation primarily because of the management their central duo asserted in clearing their strains.
Lucas Digne, 5
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Did nicely after accumulating a yellow card within the first half however misplaced his man on the finish of the match permitting Nunes to nip in and rating the winner.
Boubacar Kamara, 5
Had a troublesome activity up towards Man Metropolis’s unbelievable midfield 4 and located himself ovewhelmed in the midst of the pitch. Performed a number of good passes ahead and was a viable assist to the defence.
Amadou Onana, 7
Made a surprising clearance early within the first half, poking it behind the objective whereas going through the objective himself, from an incredible McAtee cross. Changed by Marco Asensio within the seventy fifth minute.
Rashford levelled for Aston Villa from the spot (Getty Pictures)
Morgan Rogers, 5
Saved fairly quiet this night. Changed by Donyell Malen within the 86th minute.
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Youri Tielemans, 8
Teed up Rashford’s first strike which hit the publish within the opening minute. A robust presence, focused by Metropolis all through. Made a very good sort out to carry down Kovacic when he threatened within the field.
Jacob Ramsey, 7
Did nicely to attract the foul from Dias for Villa’s first-half penalty, and a menace going ahead. Changed by John McGinn in 61st minute.
Marcus Rashford, 8
Hit the publish inside 18 seconds, then dispatched a relaxed and assured penalty regardless of jeers from the gang to carry Villa stage. Might have had extra, together with from shortly after the hour with an effort from a good angle on the again publish which hit the aspect netting. Changed by Ollie Watkins within the 76th minute.
Substitutes
John McGinn, 7; Axel Disasi, 5; Ollie Watkins, 6; Donyell Malen, 8
