MAN CITY 2, SOUTHAMPTON 1
Titles are won and lost on moments like this as Raheem Sterling’s 95th minute goal gave Premier League leaders Manchester City a massive three points at home to Southampton.
And Pep Guardiola’s joyous and almost uncontrollable celebrations, in which he sprinted on to the field, revealed precisely what it meant to City’s manager as his side ground out a valuable victory.
The late goals by Sterling against Huddersfield on Sunday and Saints see City preserve an eight-point lead at the top whereas it could conceivably had been four but for his priceless strikes in both matches.
City continue to break records – 40 points from a possible 42 is the best ever start by a club to a Premier League campaign.
They have now recorded 19 straight wins in all competitions and 12 successive Premier League wins, something they have never done previously since it was formed in 1992.
City are also closing in on Chelsea (13) and Arsenal (14) who have the most Premier League wins in a row.
It was not the prettiest game as City were frustrated by Saints’ game plan that was executed almost to perfect as opposing manager Mauricio Pellegrino almost got one over on his former Barcelona team mate – they were in the same side that won La Liga in 1998/99.
City took the lead through Kevin De Bruyne at the start of the second half, but lacked a killer touch to see off Saints who hit back to draw level through Oriol Romeu.
But with a draw looking certain, Sterling scored a late winner for each of the last three games, his 13th of the season.
“We committed a special moment with the last breath of the game. We enjoyed the situation and you have to celebrate a good moment in the last minute in the locker room with the staff,” explained Guardiola who confirmed he had been ticked off by referee Paul Tierney for his over-exuberance at the winning goal.
“I apologised, but I was so happy,” he said.
And Guardiola praised a rejuventated Sterling who is playing the best football of his career.
He explained: “He is a winning player and playing with confidence and feels the pleasure to score a winning goal.
“He was full of joy. The goal was amazing as there was no space and no space to attack as they had to 10 players in the box.”
Guardiola added Saints came to defend and waste time, though he added they deserved to find the net in a goalless first period.
He also thought City controlled Saints’ counter attacks well, but they have to improve on defending at set pieces as many teams, including Sunday’s opponents West Ham, have bigger players.
And concluding, Guardiola said: “We have a lot of games in our legs and fought big wars, but have kept the momentum.
“We were close to drawing and we are going to lose, but they were the only team that deserved to win. Every game is a battle. We tried to win, and did.”
City made two changes from the side that won at Huddersfield on Sunday as Leroy Sane and David Silva made way for Gabriel Jesus and Ilkay Gundogan.
Saints made five changes from the side that beat Everton 4-1 at the weekend as they introduced pace with the inclusion of Nathan Redmond and lone front man Shane Long in a 4-5-1 system.
It was set up to frustrate and it succeeded in the opening as the threat from City was nullified.
City’s first chance of the game in the 13th minute was a speculative 30-yard effort from Fernandinho that flashed narrowly wide.
Saints almost snatched the lead moments later when Wesley Hoedt headed against the crossbar after Ryan Bertrand’s corner was flicked on by Maya Yoshida.
City went straight to the other end on a dangerous counter attack as Saints’ keeper Fraser Forster made an important double save to deny Raheem Sterling and Jesus’ follow-up shot.
They had further decent goal attempts when Fernandinho and Jesus were denied by Forster, Nicolas Otamendi headed over from inside the six-yard box and Gundogan fired into the side netting.
Saints had a couple further changes to take the lead when Mario Lemina left Vincent Kompany for dead and his angled shot was shovelled round the post for a corner from which Yoshida volleyed over from inside the six-yard box.
City’s frustrating night ended within 90 seconds of the restart when they took the lead when Kevin De Bruyne’s low free kick eluded Saints’ defence as it crept past Forster at the near post.
Confusion initially reigned as it was initially given to Nicolas Otamendi and then a Virgil van Dijk before a further correction gave De Bruyne his fifth goal of the season.
City could have doubled their lead moments later when Jesus rolled a shot just wide of the upright.
Forster kept Saints in the game with two brilliant saves in quick succession to deny Jesus and De Bruyne.
Aguero and Fernandinho both had chances to build on the lead and put further daylight between the two teams.
Saints remained a threat and City had a lucky escape when Hoedt’s shot struck the arm of Kompany, but referee Paul Tierney waved away the appeal.
And from the resulting corner, van Dijk headed over from six yards as City were again vulnerable at set pieces.
City made their first change with 16 minutes left when Jesus made way for David Silva.
Saints drew level in the 75th minute when substitute Sofiane Boufal cut the ball back for Romeu to fire his into the roof of the net from 10 yards to silence and stun the home fans.
Guardiola reacted by bringing on Bernardo Silva for Gundogan in pursuit of a winning goal.
City thought they have conjured a 94th minute winner when Sterling found the net, but Mr Tierney disallowed it for a foul on Forster with Fernandinho in the build up.
But they kept going to the last with De Bruyne providing the assist as Sterling curled in an exquisite finish from the edge of the box to spark celebrations that will be hard to surpass, even when City clinch the title as the whole of the football world expects them to do.