Cherki’s late strike gives Manchester City 2-1 win over Forest

Rayan Cherki scored an 83rd-minute winner as Manchester City defeated Nottingham Forest 2-1 in the Premier League. Tijjani Reijnders opened the scoring, Omari Hutchinson equalised, but Cherki’s decisive strike gave City their eighth straight win, taking them to 40 points

Nottingham: Rayan Cherki struck an 83rd-minute winner to secure a 2-1 victory for Manchester City against Nottingham Forest as Pep Guardiola ended the year 2025 on a perfect note with an eighth successive win on Saturday.

After a goalless first half in which neither side had a shot on target, Tijjani Reijnders fired City ahead three minutes after the break with a calm finish to a well-crafted move.

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City’s lead lasted only six minutes as Omari Hutchinson equalised from close range, leaving Guardiola’s side fretting over the loss of points.

With time running out, Cherki — who had also provided the assist for Reijnders’ opener — drilled a low volley through a crowded penalty area to seal victory. The win was City’s eighth in a row and took them to 40 points from 18 matches in the Premier League table.

The opening half at the City Ground was ill-tempered, with defences on top and no shots on target. The second half brought festive cheer as both teams scored in quick succession.

City survived an early scare when Callum Hudson-Odoi’s cross evaded Igor Jesus and Morgan Gibbs-White. Cherki had one looping effort over the bar, while Erling Haaland and Phil Foden saw shots blocked.

Cherki’s clever pass set up Reijnders for the opener, and the Frenchman almost doubled the lead soon after, but John Victor touched his shot onto the post. Hutchinson then levelled for Forest, finishing Igor Jesus’s cross.

Forest pressed with Neco Williams and Nicola Savona going close, while Donnarumma made a key save. At the other end, John Victor denied Foden before Cherki’s decisive strike sealed the win.