BankofAthletes - Investing in Talents

Manchester City's impressive comeback 3-1 win kept alive their top four hopes and killed off Aston Villa's Champions League prospects at a tension-packed Eastlands on Saturday.

In a crucial fixture in the battle to finish fourth in the English Premier League and thus secure the final Champions League spot, Villa stunned the hosts by taking the lead through Norwegian John Carew in the 16th minute.

But City came roaring back with two goals in two minutes at the end of the first half to keep alive their hopes of joining neighbours Manchester United in Europe's premier club competition.

Carlos Tevez struck a penalty and Emmanuel Adebayor scored the second, before City sealed victory with Wales striker Craig Bellamy's goal in the final minute.

Winger Adam Johnson, who started the season in the Championship at Middlesbrough but could now end it playing for England at the World Cup, was the inspiration for the turnaround.

After winning the penalty that allowed Argentina forward Tevez to equalise in the 41st minute, Johnson teed up Adebayor to slot in another two minutes later.

Bellamy's goal made victory certain to set up an intriguing clash with Tottenham at Eastlands on Wednesday.

The win left City in fifth place and a point behind Spurs, while Villa are sixth and cannot now get into the Champions League, though they have qualified for the Europa League.

City goalkeeper Shay Given's dislocated shoulder ensured a first start for emergency loan signing Marton Fulop, drafted in from Sunderland after City failed in an attempt to recall Joe Hart from his loan at Birmingham.

But it was the Hungarian's opposite number Brad Friedel who was forced into the game's first serious save after 11 minutes.

A clever one-two between Patrick Vieira and Bellamy resulted in the latter whipping in a cross that deflected off a Villa defender towards the net before Friedel got his fingertips in the way.

Six minutes later Villa took the lead on their first attack with Stewart Downing slipping the ball through for Carew, who showed great composure to find the net after Kolo Toure failed to get in a challenge.

It was a soft goal to concede yet it could have been much worse, Downing only just failing to find the net with a blistering effort after City's defenders once again went missing in action.

City's players began to display signs of frustration.

Vincent Kompany was booked for a cynical challenge on Downing while the hosts' mood was not helped when referee Mark Clattenburg denied City a 29th minute penalty after Tevez's shot appeared to strike Stephen Warnock on the hand.

City's penalty came after Warnock's clumsy challenge on Johnson.

Suddenly the showdown was living up to the pre-match expectations.

Moments after Tevez's penalty, Carew was denied his second by the woodwork before Adebayor gave the hosts the lead.

The gifted Johnson provided the assist for Adebayor to score from eight yards and send Eastlands into raptures.

Villa boss Martin O'Neill looked as shell-shocked as his players, yet the game was far from over.

Although he produced a nervous display, Fulop did well to keep out Ashley Young's stinging 49th-minute attempt.

However, Villa's last remaining hopes of finishing fourth vanished with Bellamy's impressive finish.

City's match against Tottenham will now go a long way towards determining who grabs the final Champions League spot.