Jackson double sinks City as Villa climb the table
A pair of errors in defense handed Aston Villa a 2-1 win, ending Manchester City’s seven-game winning streak.
By Leila Santos ·
Manchester City players left Villa Park with their season-opening winning streak snapped. They fell 2-1 to Aston Villa on Saturday, a result that ends a run of seven consecutive Premier League victories for new manager Enzo Maresca.
City have now lost at this venue in four straight seasons. The defeat also complicates their position at the top of the table. Arsenal can level the points tally with City if they defeat Everton later today.
The match began with a quick strike for the home side. In the sixth minute, Marc Guehi made a heavy touch that put the ball at the feet of Nicolas Jackson. Jackson cut inside Elliott Anderson and fired a high shot past goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
City dominated possession for much of the first half. However, Villa goalkeeper Zion Suzuki made key saves to keep the score at one. Iliman Ndiaye, Rayan Cherki, and Abdukodir Khusanov all had chances denied. Ndiaye also struck the post before halftime.
The balance shifted in the 52nd minute. Erling Haaland headed in a cross from Ndiaye to equalize. It was Haaland’s 13th goal in his first 10 appearances this season. Josko Gvardiol had a chance to take the lead moments later, but his drive hit the crossbar.
Villa retaken the lead in the 60th minute. Ibrahim Mbaye crossed from behind the defense, and Jackson finished low past Donnarumma. City pressed for a second equalizer but could not find a way through the Villa defense.
The win marks the sixth victory for Villa in their last seven matches across all competitions. It lifts them to sixth place in the league. Unai Emery’s side has changed significantly since he arrived four years ago. Six players from last season’s Europa League winning team left during the summer transfer window.
New signings Jackson, Suzuki, Mbaye, and Johan Manzambi are already contributing to the team’s success. The result comes as City deal with an ongoing legal battle. They are appealing a guilty verdict on over 100 charges of breaking financial rules between 2009 and 2018. Potential sanctions include relegation.
Source: Al Jazeera
