Sergio Aguero struck in the fourth minute of injury time to hand Manchester City a dramatic 2-1 win over Villarreal in Group A play.
City still sit outside the top two qualification spots in a difficult Group A, but are now only one point below second placed SSC Napoli.
Roberto Mancini had told the official UEFA website this week that this was a game his team would “need to win.” With those words ringing in their ears, it must have doubled the pressure when Villarreal took a 4th minute lead courtesy of Cani.
Joe Hart had saved a long range Giuseppe Rossi strike, but Spanish midfielder Cani was on hand to turn home the rebound.
City pressed forward in search of an equalizer, with Aleksandar Kolarov forcing Diego Lopez into a smart save from a free kick, before blazing another effort wide of the target.
Mancini showed his impatience by making a tactical substitution six minutes before the half-time interval. Young England winger Adam Johnson was withdrawn, with the more experienced Gareth Barry coming on as his replacement.
Johnson sowed his disappointment at being substituted, it seemed a bold move given te events involving Carlos Tevez and Edin Dzeko in the club’s last Champions League fixture.
The move paid dividends as City managed to find an equalizer in the 43rd minute. The lively Kolarov swung in a cross, and the unfortunate Carlos Marchena redirected the ball into his own goal to tie the game at 1-1.
Six minutes into the second half City fans had their hearts in their mouth as Rossi let loose a stinging drive, but Hart produced a good save to keep the scores level.
After 62 minutes Mancini would make another important substitution, as Nigel De Jong was withdrawn and match winner Aguero went on in his place.
Villarreal had the better of possession in the last 30 minutes, with neither team creating a clear cut chance until the 86th minute. Kolarov was again at the heart of the attack and his cross was turned wide by Dzeko.
Pablo Zabaleta had a header saved in the first minute of injury time, but the Argentine defender set up his countryman Aguero to win the game just minutes later. Zabaleta had his cross flicked on by David Silva, and Aguero fired home to spark wild scenes of celebration at the Etihad Stadium.
The win is a welcome boost for City, who will try and move into the top two spots in Group A when they travel to face Villarreal in Spain on November 2nd.
LINEUPS
MAN – Hart, Kompany, Zabaleta, Lescott, Kolarov, Johnson (Barry 40), Nasri (Milner 81), Silva, De Jong (Aguero 62), Y Toure, Dzeko.
VIL – Diego Lopez, Rodriguez, Marchena, Zapata, Calata, De Guzman (Gullon 88), Cani (Perez 82), Perez (Wakaso 80), Valero, Bruno, Rossi.
SCORING SUMMARY
VIL – Cani (Giuseppe Rossi) 4’
MAN – Carlos Marchena (own goal) 43’
MAN Sergio Aguero (Pablo Zabaleta) 90+4’
Roberto Mancini had told the official UEFA website this week that this was a game his team would “need to win.” With those words ringing in their ears, it must have doubled the pressure when Villarreal took a 4th minute lead courtesy of Cani.
Joe Hart had saved a long range Giuseppe Rossi strike, but Spanish midfielder Cani was on hand to turn home the rebound.
City pressed forward in search of an equalizer, with Aleksandar Kolarov forcing Diego Lopez into a smart save from a free kick, before blazing another effort wide of the target.
Mancini showed his impatience by making a tactical substitution six minutes before the half-time interval. Young England winger Adam Johnson was withdrawn, with the more experienced Gareth Barry coming on as his replacement.
Johnson sowed his disappointment at being substituted, it seemed a bold move given te events involving Carlos Tevez and Edin Dzeko in the club’s last Champions League fixture.
The move paid dividends as City managed to find an equalizer in the 43rd minute. The lively Kolarov swung in a cross, and the unfortunate Carlos Marchena redirected the ball into his own goal to tie the game at 1-1.
Six minutes into the second half City fans had their hearts in their mouth as Rossi let loose a stinging drive, but Hart produced a good save to keep the scores level.
After 62 minutes Mancini would make another important substitution, as Nigel De Jong was withdrawn and match winner Aguero went on in his place.
Villarreal had the better of possession in the last 30 minutes, with neither team creating a clear cut chance until the 86th minute. Kolarov was again at the heart of the attack and his cross was turned wide by Dzeko.
Pablo Zabaleta had a header saved in the first minute of injury time, but the Argentine defender set up his countryman Aguero to win the game just minutes later. Zabaleta had his cross flicked on by David Silva, and Aguero fired home to spark wild scenes of celebration at the Etihad Stadium.
The win is a welcome boost for City, who will try and move into the top two spots in Group A when they travel to face Villarreal in Spain on November 2nd.
LINEUPS
MAN – Hart, Kompany, Zabaleta, Lescott, Kolarov, Johnson (Barry 40), Nasri (Milner 81), Silva, De Jong (Aguero 62), Y Toure, Dzeko.
VIL – Diego Lopez, Rodriguez, Marchena, Zapata, Calata, De Guzman (Gullon 88), Cani (Perez 82), Perez (Wakaso 80), Valero, Bruno, Rossi.
SCORING SUMMARY
VIL – Cani (Giuseppe Rossi) 4’
MAN – Carlos Marchena (own goal) 43’
MAN Sergio Aguero (Pablo Zabaleta) 90+4’
