MANCHESTER: Manchester City pulled off a stunning fightback to beat Aston Villa 3-2 and snatch the Premier League title as Pep Guardiola's side did it the hard way.
You could not script this drama and be taken seriously. Chasing a fourth title in five seasons, City knew victory would secure that, yet Steven Gerrard had Villa well organised and the hosts struggled to find their usual fluency.
Matty Cash's 37th-minute opener stunned the hosts, and former Liverpool forward Philippe Coutinho left City devastated when he lashed Villa two goals clear in the 69th minute.
But Ilkay Gundogan's header and Rodri's low strike dramatically hauled the hosts level with two goals in three minutes, before super-sub Gundogan slammed home City's third nine minutes from time, scotching Liverpool's title hopes.
It was shaping up from the early stages to be 90 minutes of City attack versus Villa defence and countering, with the hosts having had a shade under 75 per cent of possession in the first quarter. Phil Foden rolled a shot six inches wide, via a slight deflection, and Gabriel Jesus wasted a decent opening.
Villa found the breakthrough when their full-backs combined, Lucas Digne crossing from the left for Cash to head in from eight yards as Joao Cancelo failed to prevent the Poland international attacking the ball at the far post.
Ollie Watkins dithered as another great chance came Villa's way, John Stones dashing back to jostle the striker off the ball.
Jesus missed a glorious opportunity five minutes into the second half when he stabbed over from close range. The Brazilian had another shot charged down, while at the other end Watkins was denied by Ederson's sprawling save after brushing off Aymeric Laporte's challenge.
City were in deep trouble when Coutinho fired Villa two ahead in the 69th minute, fastening on to a flick-on from Watkins and rifling low into the left corner.
Gundogan gave the hosts hope when he headed fellow substitute Raheem Sterling's cross past Robin Olsen in the 76th minute, and then Rodri lashed in from the edge of the box.
Guardiola was leaping around on the touchline, the crowd anticipating a winner, just as when Sergio Aguero's late dramatics delivered the title in 2012, and it came when De Bruyne's delicious ball across goal from the right was met by Gundogan. He could hardly miss. City, from the depths of despair, are champions once more.
Astro Arena
Sun May 22 2022
Football - Premier League - Manchester City v Aston Villa - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - May 22, 2022 Manchester City's Ilkay Gundogan celebrates scoring their third goal. - REUTERS
Polis rampas dadah lebih RM2.3 juta, lelaki tempatan ditahan
Polis Johor merampas dadah bernilai lebih RM2.3 juta dalam dua serbuan berasingan di sekitar kawasan Johor Bahru Selatan pada Rabu lalu.
Jalani tempoh perkenalan singkat, warga emas 78 tahun teruja bertemu jodoh semula
"Kami diperkenalkan oleh kawan anak. Pertemuan pertama kami, dia pandang saya dia dah berkenan."
Waspada ejen nikah Siam
Konsulat Malaysia di Songkhla, Ahmad Fahmi Ahmad Sarkawi menasihat rakyat Malaysia yang ingin berkahwin di Selatan Thailand supaya waspada dalam pemilihan ejen.
Twincity Marathon rai golongan OKU
Perbezaan fizikal tidak melunturkan semangat golongan orang kurang upaya (OKU) untuk menyertai acara larian Twincity Marathon sejauh lima kilometer (km) di Cyberjaya hari ini.
Bersatu serah notis kepada enam ahli Parlimen selepas PRK Kuala Kubu Bharu - Hamzah
Bersatu akan mengeluarkan notis berhubung status kedudukan enam ahli Parlimennya yang menyokong Perdana Menteri selepas PRK Kuala Kubu Bharu.
Kemarau: Beting pasir seluas padang bola timbul di Sungai Kelantan
Beting pasir tersebut mula kelihatan sejak pertengahan Ramadan lepas dan saiznya semakin besar dari sehari ke sehari.
Dhobi Ghat Pulau Pinang: Daerah dobi terakhir di Malaysia
Terletak di antara Jalan Air Hitam dan Jalan York, Dhobi Ghat di Pulau Pinang itu telah wujud sejak awal 1800-an.
KBS sasar 8,880 individu sertai KLAS Renang tahun ini
Kementerian Belia dan Sukan (KBS) menyasarkan sebanyak 8,880 individu menyertai Program Kemahiran Latihan Asas Sukan Renang (KLAS Renang) di seluruh negara tahun ini.
Penyu PD pulang bertelur, orang ramai jangan buat kacau ganggu
Selepas menemui 159 telur penyu karah di Pantai Tanjung Gemok Port Dickson, pada Jumaat, kini sebanyak 117 telur penyu agar pula ditemui pada Sabtu.
Che'gubard direman dua hari
Che'gubard atau nama sebenarnya Badrul Hisham Shaharin ditahan reman dua hari bagi membantu siasatan berkaitan hantaran mengenai pengoperasian kasino di Forest City.
Dua gol Haaland beri permulaan cemerlang buat Manchester City
Anak buah Pep Guardiola kembali beraksi kompetitif dengan hebat di Turf Moor.
Salah tidak perlukan motivasi untuk jadi legenda - Klopp
Mohamed Salah tidak perlukan motivasi tambahan untuk memecahkan rekod dan mencapai status legenda, kata pengurus Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp.
Kane bukti peranan penting taktikal Mourinho
Jose Mourinho yakin Tottenham dan Son Heung-min tidak akan menghadapi masalah dalam rundingan kontrak baru sambil memuji sentuhan Harry Kane dalam kemenangan 2-0 ke atas West Brom, malam tadi.
EPL: Southampton selesa ketepikan Aston Villa 4-3
Kedua-dua gol yang dijaringkan pada babak pertama itu, memberi kelebihan kepada Southampton untuk terus ke tangga keempat liga.
EPL: Everton dan Liverpool seri tanpa jaringan
Aksi sulung Everton dan Liverpool selepas penggantungan EPL pula berakhir dengan seri tanpa jaringan.
Astro peroleh hak siaran Liga Perdana Inggeris hingga 2021/2022
Astro Malaysia Holdings Berhad memperoleh hak eksklusif untuk menyiarkan semua perlawanan liga tersebut untuk tiga musim akan datang.
Mourinho berang aksi longlai jentera serangan United
United meraih deretan peluang untuk mendapatkan kemenangan tetapi disia-siakan, sehingga pengurus pasukan, Jose Mourinho, berang dengan persembahan yang dipamerkan oleh beberapa pemain.
John Terry tinggalkan Aston Villa
John Terry akan meninggalkan Aston Villa selepas hanya beraksi satu musim selepas mereka gagal melayakkan diri ke Liga Perdana Inggeris dari Liga Kejuaraan.
Guardiola extends Man City contract to 2021
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola signed a contract extension with the Premier League champions on Thursday that will keep him in the job until 2021.
Salah sets record, Liverpool qualify for Champions League
Mohamed Salah becomes the first player to score 32 goals in a 38-game Premier League season.