In what could be the assist of the season, Phil Foden delivered a moment of pure magic that kept Manchester City's Premier League title hopes alive. The 25-year-old's mesmerizing first-half backheel was the spark City needed to overcome a disjointed start and secure a crucial 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace on Wednesday night.

The win leaves Pep Guardiola's side just two points behind league leaders Arsenal with only a week left in the season. But it wasn't always looking so promising. City looked fragmented early on, a result of Guardiola's bold decision to make six changes to his starting lineup—a gamble necessitated by the upcoming FA Cup final.

This wasn't the first time the Spaniard had risked rotation. Earlier this season, a 10-change lineup backfired in a Champions League home defeat to Bayer Leverkusen. But this time, the move paid off, thanks largely to Foden's brilliance.

Foden set up the first two goals, starting with a jaw-dropping backheel that unlocked Antoine Semenyo for the opener. "I checked a few times before receiving the ball and saw Ant make a good movement," Foden explained. "Sometimes a risk is worth taking. I'm buzzing to contribute and help the lads get three points."

The football world took notice. Former England midfielder Jamie Redknapp called it the "assist of the season," while ex-City defender Micah Richards gushed on Sky Sports: "This is why I love him. The little backheel is sensational. To produce that vision and execution from the academy is mesmerising."

With Man City now chasing a domestic cup double ahead of Saturday's clash with Chelsea, Foden's timely return to form couldn't have come at a better moment. After 10 goals in 48 appearances this season, his Wembley credentials are looking stronger than ever.