A goal in stoppage time by Sergio Aguero saved Manchester City's blushes as it was enough to secure a 2-1 win over second-tier Bristol City in their League Cup semi-final first leg clash on Tuesday
Bristol Citys Marlon Pack tries a shot towards goal past Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne during the English League Cup semifinal first leg soccer match between Manchester City and Bristol City at the Etihad stadium in Manchester, England, Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2018. AP/ PTI
A goal in stoppage time by Sergio Aguero saved Manchester City's blushes as it was enough to secure a 2-1 win over second-tier Bristol City in their League Cup semi-final first leg clash on Tuesday. The Argentinian's 19th goal of the season and a fine effort by Belgian international Kevin De Bruyne cancelled out Bobby Reid's first-half penalty to give the hosts a club record-equalling 16th successive home win.
However Bristol City, this season's giantkillers who have eliminated four Premier League sides including holders Manchester United, gave their 8,000 travelling fans -- the highest away attendance at the Etihad Stadum in its 15-year history -- much to cheer. Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola sportingly congratulated his Bristol City counterpart Lee Johnson at the end. "We created a lot of chances and that's why we win in the end, but today we knew we are not going to finish our job -- that will have to happen away in Bristol when we travel there," the Spaniard told the BBC.
"They were really good, so we tried so hard, all the players tried and we're really happy," added the 46-year-old, who has lost five of his last six semi-finals including City's last domestic loss to Arsenal in last season's FA Cup. Johnson, who last season received a death threat and had to move house as a result after Bristol City lost eight matches in a row, said he was proud of his players. "They can't be disappointed as we are still in the tie," he told Sky Sports. "They have shown the world we are good footballers." Manchester City went close to breaking the deadlock on the quarter-hour mark when a flowing move concluded with Bernardo Silva's goal-bound shot taking a deflection off a Bristol City defender.
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