Villa punishes Guehi's awful error

Aston Villa defeated Manchester City 2-1 at Villa Park on Sunday, ending the champions' perfect start to the Premier League season. Nicolas Jackson scored both goals for the hosts, capitalizing on a defensive error by Marc Guéhi to secure the opening strike. Erling Haaland pulled one back for the visitors, but Jackson struck again in the 60th minute to seal the victory. This result marked Manchester City's first league loss of the campaign and snapped their unbeaten record under manager Enzo Maresca. The match began with tension as the away supporters booed the visiting team upon arrival. The hostility stemmed from Manchester City being found guilty of serious breaches of the competition's financial regulations earlier in the month. Early pressure mounted when goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma delayed taking a goal kick, resulting in a corner kick for Villa. In the sixth minute, Guéhi failed to control a pass, spilling the ball directly into the path of John McGinn. McGinn quickly laid the ball off to Jackson, who placed a precise shot into the top corner to give Villa the lead. Despite the early deficit, Manchester City maintained composure. However, their efforts were repeatedly thwarted by Villa goalkeeper Zion Suzuki. The Japanese international made several crucial interventions throughout the first half. He pushed away a curling effort from Iliman Ndiaye and later stopped shots from Rayan Cherki and Abdukodir Khusanov. Ndiaye also hit the post with another powerful drive, keeping the score at 1-0 at halftime. In the second half, Erling Haaland restored parity for Manchester City with his ninth league goal of the season. The equalizer briefly shifted momentum toward the visitors. Yet, Aston Villa responded swiftly. On the hour mark, Jackson found the net again to restore the advantage. This goal represented his fourth of the current season and extended his personal scoring streak. Manager Unai Emery guided his team to a fourth consecutive victory across all competitions. It was also Aston Villa's first home league win of the season, continuing their recent improvement in form after a sluggish start to the campaign. For Manchester City, the defeat highlighted their ongoing struggles at Villa Park, where they have lost their last four league visits. The loss ended Maresca's 100 percent league start as the club's new head coach. Donnarumma remained in goal for Manchester City despite the errors, while Suzuki's performance was pivotal in preserving the narrow margin until Jackson's decisive strike. The final whistle confirmed the upset, leaving Manchester City without a point from the encounter. The result stands as a significant setback for the reigning champions as they navigate the early stages of the new Premier League season.