Hat-trick hero Sergio Aguero salvaged a
3-2 win over 10-man Bayern Munich to
keep Manchester City's UEFA Champions
League hopes alive.
Winless in their four previous Group E
outings, Manuel Pellegrini's team looked
set to extend that record to a fifth game on
Tuesday until a late intervention from their
Argentine superstar.
They had been handed a huge opportunity to claim a major
scalp when Bayern defender Mehdi Benatia was sent off for a
professional foul on Aguero midway through the first half.
The City striker converted the resulting 22nd-minute penalty
before the hosts' evening began to unravel as Xabi Alonso
buried a low 40th-minute free-kick and then Robert
Lewandowski put Pep Guardiola's visitors ahead on the stroke
of half-time.
But Alonso switched from hero to villain when he conceded
possession to allow Aguero to fire the English club level in the
85th minute and, at the same end of the Etihad Stadium
where he memorably won the 2011-12 Premier League title
against QPR, City's talisman made another telling stoppage-
time contribution.
He caught former Eastlands defender Jerome Boateng napping
to finish clinically once again.
A win away at Roma will now secure City’s passage in
second place behind Bayern, provided the already qualified
German champions beat CSKA Moscow at home.
Samir Nasri had a first-minute shot blocked and Frank
Lampard, starting due to suspensions for fellow midfielders
Yaya Toure and Fernandinho, looped a header over before
Bayern established an ominous early rhythm.
A chipped pass from Arjen Robben caught out City defenders
Eliaquim Mangala and Gael Clichy and meant Joe Hart had to
be out sharply to deny Sebastian Rode.
It was an otherwise assured start by Mangala, who made a
vital 19th-minute block to thwart Rafinha as City looked to
pin Bayern back with some fine long passing - an approach
that soon handed them a major advantage.
Aguero got the better of Benatia chasing a lofted ball from
Lampard and referee Pavel Kralovec had little option but to
dismiss the defender when he hacked his man to ground.
City's top scorer stroked the resulting penalty past Manuel
Neuer and from there, the home team played with increasing
confidence - often orchestrated by the evergreen Lampard.
But Bayern brilliantly turned the game on its head in the five
minutes before half-time.
Some trademark slick passing drew a foul from Mangala on
Lewandowski and Alonso marked his 33rd birthday by guiding
a 20-yard free-kick into the bottom corner, as Hart left himself
unsighted.
Making light of their numerical disadvantage, Bayern then
controlled possession, culminating in Lewandowksi stealing in
between Vincent Kompany and Bacary Sagna to send
Robben's cross looping into the net.
Alonso pounced on a slack pass from Mangala to Fernando
and scooped a return ball from Robben over as City stumbled
into the second half.
Jesus Navas' pace down the right flank continued to prove a
useful outlet for the hosts and Neuer was down well to turn a
49th-minute strike from the Spain winger behind, while James
Milner arched a curling strike over as City probed for the
equaliser.
But Pellegrini’s men frustratingly struggled to mount sustained
pressure, with a rasping 30-yard drive from Lampard offering
Neuer further fleeting involvement with 20 minutes to play.
Clear chances remained elusive for the English champions
until an uncharacteristically slack pass from Alonso was
intercepted by Stevan Jovetic.
Aguero still had plenty to do but he darted in on goal to slide
the ball past Neuer, before he stepped up again to provide
even more late drama.
The Argentina marksman found Boateng to be in similarly
charitable mood in stoppage time to net the decisive
third, ensuring that all roads in City's Champions League
destiny now lead to Rome.
3-2 win over 10-man Bayern Munich to
keep Manchester City's UEFA Champions
League hopes alive.
Winless in their four previous Group E
outings, Manuel Pellegrini's team looked
set to extend that record to a fifth game on
Tuesday until a late intervention from their
Argentine superstar.
They had been handed a huge opportunity to claim a major
scalp when Bayern defender Mehdi Benatia was sent off for a
professional foul on Aguero midway through the first half.
The City striker converted the resulting 22nd-minute penalty
before the hosts' evening began to unravel as Xabi Alonso
buried a low 40th-minute free-kick and then Robert
Lewandowski put Pep Guardiola's visitors ahead on the stroke
of half-time.
But Alonso switched from hero to villain when he conceded
possession to allow Aguero to fire the English club level in the
85th minute and, at the same end of the Etihad Stadium
where he memorably won the 2011-12 Premier League title
against QPR, City's talisman made another telling stoppage-
time contribution.
He caught former Eastlands defender Jerome Boateng napping
to finish clinically once again.
A win away at Roma will now secure City’s passage in
second place behind Bayern, provided the already qualified
German champions beat CSKA Moscow at home.
Samir Nasri had a first-minute shot blocked and Frank
Lampard, starting due to suspensions for fellow midfielders
Yaya Toure and Fernandinho, looped a header over before
Bayern established an ominous early rhythm.
A chipped pass from Arjen Robben caught out City defenders
Eliaquim Mangala and Gael Clichy and meant Joe Hart had to
be out sharply to deny Sebastian Rode.
It was an otherwise assured start by Mangala, who made a
vital 19th-minute block to thwart Rafinha as City looked to
pin Bayern back with some fine long passing - an approach
that soon handed them a major advantage.
Aguero got the better of Benatia chasing a lofted ball from
Lampard and referee Pavel Kralovec had little option but to
dismiss the defender when he hacked his man to ground.
City's top scorer stroked the resulting penalty past Manuel
Neuer and from there, the home team played with increasing
confidence - often orchestrated by the evergreen Lampard.
But Bayern brilliantly turned the game on its head in the five
minutes before half-time.
Some trademark slick passing drew a foul from Mangala on
Lewandowski and Alonso marked his 33rd birthday by guiding
a 20-yard free-kick into the bottom corner, as Hart left himself
unsighted.
Making light of their numerical disadvantage, Bayern then
controlled possession, culminating in Lewandowksi stealing in
between Vincent Kompany and Bacary Sagna to send
Robben's cross looping into the net.
Alonso pounced on a slack pass from Mangala to Fernando
and scooped a return ball from Robben over as City stumbled
into the second half.
Jesus Navas' pace down the right flank continued to prove a
useful outlet for the hosts and Neuer was down well to turn a
49th-minute strike from the Spain winger behind, while James
Milner arched a curling strike over as City probed for the
equaliser.
But Pellegrini’s men frustratingly struggled to mount sustained
pressure, with a rasping 30-yard drive from Lampard offering
Neuer further fleeting involvement with 20 minutes to play.
Clear chances remained elusive for the English champions
until an uncharacteristically slack pass from Alonso was
intercepted by Stevan Jovetic.
Aguero still had plenty to do but he darted in on goal to slide
the ball past Neuer, before he stepped up again to provide
even more late drama.
The Argentina marksman found Boateng to be in similarly
charitable mood in stoppage time to net the decisive
third, ensuring that all roads in City's Champions League
destiny now lead to Rome.
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