Unheralded O'Reilly stars again for Man City as Villa thrashes Newcastle in Premier League

As Manchester City’s players and coaches celebrated a crucial win in front of their travelling fans, Nico O’Reilly was happy to loiter in the background at Goodison Park.

Before long, the shy youngster was being pushed to the front as City’s supporters chanted his name.

O’Reilly is proving to be an unlikely trump card in City’s bid to secure Champions League qualification from the Premier League, with the 20-year-old midfielder popping up to score the first of the team’s two late goals in a 2-0 win at Everton on Saturday.

The victory lifted the soon-to-be-deposed champions into fourth place. The teams finishing in the top five will qualify for next season’s Champions League and City is far from sure of being among them after a huge regression following an unprecedented four straight titles under Pep Guardiola.

With Aston Villa beating Newcastle 4-1 later Saturday, only two points separated third place (Newcastle) and sixth place (Villa) with five games left.

O’Reilly, a tall, Manchester-born kid who came through the City academy, had barely featured for City this season until a defensive injury crisis led to Guardiola playing him out of position at left back.

Not only has he been defensively sound, he's also scoring. There were two goals in a come-from-behind win over second-tier Plymouth in the FA Cup last month, while he netted his first Premier League goal last weekend in a big win over Crystal Palace.

On Saturday, O'Reilly swept home a cross from fellow full back Matheus Nunes to break the deadlock against Everton in the 84th minute. Substitute Mateo Kovacic added another in stoppage time.

“He is very humble and shy — he doesn’t talk much,” City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan said of O'Reilly. "That is something good when you’re new. He is observing and trying to learn what other players are doing.

“In terms of talent and quality, not just his size but playing in a position that isn’t natural for him at left back, he’s been doing amazing in recent weeks."

O'Reilly is not the first midfielder that Guardiola has converted to a left back at City. There was also Fabian Delph and Oleksandr Zinchenko.

“He’s an attacking midfielder and when you play as a full back, when the transition is quick, you can arrive there,” Guardiola said. “He is always there.”

City went above Nottingham Forest, which dropped to fifth place in its improbable bid to get into the Champions League. Forest visits Tottenham on Monday.

The race to finish in the top five got even tighter after Aston Villa crushed Newcastle, helped by a goal after 33 seconds by Ollie Watkins.

Watkins, who was picked ahead of Marcus Rashford, also set up Ian Maatsen for Villa's second goal, before an own-goal by Dan Burn and an edge-of-the-area strike by Amadou Onana.

Newcastle defender Fabian Schar's header made it 1-1.

Man City hosts Villa on Tuesday in what Guardiola has called a “final.”

Chelsea, three points behind Villa in seventh, visits Fulham on Sunday.

There were concerns about where Brentford’s goals were going to come from when star striker Ivan Toney left for Saudi Arabia last summer.

Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa are ensuring Toney is barely being missed.

Mbeumo scored twice to move to 18 goals for the campaign and Wissa netted for the 16th time as Brentford beat Brighton 4-2 in a match between teams in mid-table.

There was more than 20 minutes of stoppage time in the second half, partly because of a clash of heads between Brentford’s Yunus Konak and Brighton’s Jan Paul van Hecke in added-on time that required both players to get lengthy and careful treatment.

Van Hecke was given oxygen while being carried off the field on a stretcher to applause from the crowd.

Joao Pedro was sent off for Brighton in the second half for elbowing Brentford defender Nathan Collins.

Already-relegated Southampton will not be the outright worst team the Premier League has ever seen.

A stoppage-time equalizer by Lesley Ugochukwu earned the Saints a 1-1 draw at West Ham and nudged the last-placed team to 11 points — the same number Derby County had in the 2007-08 season. That remains the lowest points total in a single Premier League.

Southampton has five more games to get ahead of Derby's total.

United States defender Chris Richards was sent off for collecting two yellow cards in Crystal Palace's 0-0 draw with Bournemouth.

Steve Douglas is at https://twitter.com/sdouglas80

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Aston Villa's Ian Maatsen scores past Newcastle United goalkeeper Nick Pope during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Newcastle United at Villa Park, Birmingham, England, Saturday April 19, 2025. (Nick Potts/PA via AP)

Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins celebrates scoring during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Newcastle United at Villa Park, Birmingham, England, Saturday April 19, 2025. (David Davies/PA via AP)

Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins, center, celebrates scoring with teammates during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Newcastle United at Villa Park, Birmingham, England, Saturday April 19, 2025. (David Davies/PA via AP)

Brighton and Hove Albion's Jan Paul van Hecke receives treatment, during the English Premier League soccer match between Brentford and Brighton and Hove Albion, at the Gtech Community Stadium, London, Saturday April 19, 2025. (Adam Davy/PA via AP)

Tempers flare between the players, during the English Premier League soccer match between Brentford and Brighton and Hove Albion, at the Gtech Community Stadium, London, Saturday April 19, 2025. (Adam Davy/PA via AP)

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola gestures on the touchline during the English Premier League soccer match between Everton and Manchester City at Goodison Park, Liverpool, England, Saturday April 19, 2025. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)

West Ham United's Mohammed Kudus, left and Southampton's Lesley Ugochukwu vie for the ball during the EnglishPremier League soccer match between West Ham United and Southampton at London Stadium, London, Saturday April 19, 2025. (Nigel French/PA via AP)

West Ham United's Jarrod Bowen celebrates scoring the opening goal, during the English Premier League soccer match between West Ham United and Southampton at London Stadium, London, Saturday April 19, 2025. (Nigel French/PA via AP)

Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo scores his side's first goal of the game, during the English Premier League soccer match between Brentford and Brighton and Hove Albion, at the Gtech Community Stadium, London, Saturday April 19, 2025. (Adam Davy/PA via AP)

Manchester City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega saves a shot from Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite during the English Premier League soccer match between Everton and Manchester City at Goodison Park, Liverpool, England, Saturday April 19, 2025. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)

Manchester City's Mateo Kovacic celebrates scoring during the English Premier League soccer match between Everton and Manchester City at Goodison Park, Liverpool, England, Saturday April 19, 2025. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)

Manchester City's Nico O'Reilly celebrates scoring during the English Premier League soccer match between Everton and Manchester City at Goodison Park, Liverpool, England, Saturday April 19, 2025. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)

ROME (AP) — Jannik Sinner has gone all the way to the final in his first tournament back from a three-month doping ban.

And Carlos Alcaraz is waiting for him in the Italian Open title match.

The top-ranked Sinner rallied past No. 12 Tommy Paul 1-6, 6-0, 6-3 in the semifinals on Friday as he attempts to become the first Italian man to lift the Rome trophy since Adriano Panatta in 1976.

Earlier, Alcaraz advanced to his first Rome final by beating Lorenzo Musetti 6-3, 7-6 (4).

Sunday’s final will mark the first meeting between Sinner and Alcaraz since October, when Alcaraz won the China Open final in a third-set tiebreaker. Alcaraz holds a 6-4 edge in his career meetings with Sinner and has won three straight against his biggest rival.

But Sinner has not lost since that defeat to Alcaraz in Beijing and is on a 26-match winning streak. He’s playing his first tournament since he won his third Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January.

“He’s playing great. I’ve been watching his matches,” Alcaraz said. “His level is really high right now. Every time that I play against him is always a battle, always really, really tough. I kind of enjoy (those) moments.”

Sinner cranked up his level to near perfection in a rout of Casper Ruud in the quarterfinals on Thursday. Against Paul, Sinner made unforced errors in the first set while his American opponent hit shot after shot on the lines. But Sinner quickly turned the match around.

Sinner said cooler, heavier conditions made it more challenging and that getting broken in his first service game was a “punch in my face."

“But I tried to stay there mentally, trying to understand what might work a little bit better,” Sinner said. “Tennis can change quickly.”

Toward the end of the match, Sinner appeared to be grimacing at times and clutching his thighs.

“Since the third round I have a small blister under my feet which doesn’t allow me that well to move in some moments,” he said. “Leg-wise I’m not concerned, it’s just a bit tight.

“There are no excuses. With the adrenaline there is just going to be a lot of energy on Sunday. I’m 100% not concerned.”

Sinner is the first Italian man in the Rome final since Panatta lost the 1978 title match to Bjorn Borg, and Alcaraz noted that playing Sinner before his home crowd will be “even more challenging.”

Sinner's fans have been out in full force for all of his matches, many of them wearing wigs and hats in orange — his theme color. One fan held aloft a sign during the semifinal that translated from Italian to, “Sinner, we missed you.”

In February, Sinner agreed to a settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency that raised questions, since the three-month suspension conveniently allowed him not to miss any Grand Slams and come back at his home tournament.

Rome is the last big warmup before the French Open starts on May 25.

It’s the third final in three clay-court events this season for Alcaraz, who won the Monte Carlo Masters and finished runner-up in the Barcelona Open. He withdrew from the Madrid Open because of injury.

The third-ranked Alcaraz withdrew from the Madrid tournament with an upper right leg issue and also had a left leg injury. In Rome, he has been wearing a long black brace covering the upper portion of his right leg stretching down to just below his knee.

Musetti took the first set off Alcaraz in the Monte Carlo final but Alcaraz broke the Italian’s serve in the first game of the rematch to silence the pro-Musetti crowd on Campo Centrale. Musetti didn’t help himself with unforced errors and began pushing Alcaraz only at the end of the set.

Musetti was docked a point for misbehavior late in the second set after receiving a warning earlier for breaking his racket.

On a windy day at the Foro Italico, Alcaraz said it wasn’t about playing “brilliant,” but rather “smart tennis” was required.

“Waiting for your chances to play aggressive, so I think I did it pretty well,” Alcaraz said. “I stayed strong mentally when things didn’t went to my side.”

Alcaraz is playing the Italian Open for the second time. During his Rome debut last year, he lost to then-135th-ranked Hungarian qualifier Fabian Marozsan in the third round.

The women’s final on Saturday features Coco Gauff against Jasmine Paolini.

Paolini and partner Sara Errani also advanced to the women’s doubles final when they beat Russian pair Mirra Andreeva and Diana Shnaider 6-4, 6-4 in a rematch of last year’s Olympic final also won by the Italians.

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Italy's Jannik Sinner celebrates after winning the semifinal tennis match against Tommy Paul, of the United States, at the Italian Open, in Rome, Friday, May 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Jannik Sinner fans wait for the start of the semifinal tennis match against Tommy Paul, of the United States, at the Italian Open, in Rome, Friday, May 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Italy's Jannik Sinner stands on the court during his semifinal tennis match against Tommy Paul, of the United States, at the Italian Open, in Rome, Friday, May 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Spain's Carlos Alcaraz celebrates after winning the semifinal tennis match against taly's Lorenzo Musetti at the Italian Open, in Rome, Friday, May 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Spain's Carlos Alcaraz returns the ball to Italy's Lorenzo Musetti during their semifinal tennis match at the Italian Open, at the Foro Italico, in Rome, Friday, May 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Italy's Lorenzo Musetti returns the ball to Spain's Carlos Alcaraz during their semifinal tennis match at the Italian Open, in Rome, Friday, May 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Spain's Carlos Alcaraz walks on the court during the semifinal tennis match against Italy's Lorenzo Musetti at the Italian Open, in Rome, Friday, May 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Italy's Lorenzo Musetti returns the ball to Spain's Carlos Alcaraz during their semifinal tennis match at the Italian Open, at the Foro Italico, in Rome, Friday, May 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Spain's Carlos Alcaraz returns the ball to Italy's Lorenzo Musetti during their semifinal tennis match at the Italian Open, in Rome, Friday, May 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Spain's Carlos Alcaraz returns the ball to Italy's Lorenzo Musetti during their semifinal tennis match at the Italian Open, at the Foro Italico, in Rome, Friday, May 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)