Late Aguero Header Keeps Man City’s Carabao Cup Hopes Alive

Late Aguero Header Keeps Man City’s Carabao Cup Hopes Alive

Sergio Aguero’s extra time header gave Man City all 3 points as they came from behind to defeat ‘brave’ Bristol City in the semi-final first leg of the Carabao Cup.

The Championship side were excellent, especially in the first half, and led from Bobby Reid’s penalty, awarded after John Stones chopped down the Robins player.

But Kevin de Bruyne equalised for the unbeaten Premier League leaders after a one-two with Raheem Sterling.

And as the underdogs looked set to take a draw and an away goal back to Bristol for the second leg, substitute Aguero headed in Bernardo Silva’s cross.

But Bristol City – who knocked out their hosts’ neighbors Manchester United in the previous round – produced a performance that will give them encouragement for the return at Ashton Gate on Tuesday, 23 January (19:45 GMT).

Lee Johnson’s Bristol City have had a season to remember. As well as challenging for promotion to the top flight, they have beaten four Premier League sides on their run to the last four – Watford, Stoke, Crystal Palace and famously United in the quarter-finals.

Impressively in a season where many Premier League sides have adopted defensive tactics against Manchester City, who are yet to lose a domestic game all season, the Robins played some brave, risky attacking football.

Joe Bryan had a shot saved by Claudio Bravo at his near post and then Marlon Pack’s 20-yard shot from Oleksandr Zinchenko’s clearance was straight at the keeper.

They deserved to lead when Josh Brownhill won the ball off Eliaquim Mangala and played in Reid, who was brought down by Stones’ mistimed tackle.

The Robins were more subdued in the second half, but almost scored a famous winner when debutant Liam Walsh fired wide from the corner of the box late on. And he was made to regret that miss all the more when Aguero popped up seconds from the end.