City’s Aguero heads last-gasp winner Cup semi

MANCHESTER (Reuters) – Manchester City forward Sergio Aguero’s last-gasp header secured a 2-1 victory over Bristol City in its League Cup semifinal first leg on Tuesday after the second-tier side had frustrated the Premier League leader.

City, which has dished out a string of maulings in a stellar league campaign, found the Championship side a tough nut to crack and had to wait until the 92nd minute to grab the winner when Argentine substitute Aguero darted in to head home.

The visiting side had opened the scoring with a penalty just before halftime after central defender John Stones had fouled Bobby Reid, who dispatched the spot kick with aplomb.

Kevin De Bruyne’s equalizer soon after the break turned the tide and City then laid siege to its opponent’s defense in the closing stages before Aguero’s goal gave it a vital advantage ahead of the return leg in two weeks’ time.

“My players were fantastic because in football you can win, you can lose, but we try until the end... we don’t give up,” City manager Pep Guardiola told Sky Sports.

With Manchester City unbeaten domestically all season and streaking clear in the Premier League it was hard to imagine it facing much of a test at home to Lee Johnson’s side, which is 14 points off the pace in the second division.

Yet Bristol had beaten four top-flight sides en route to the semifinals, including City’s arch rival Manchester United in the last round, and was in no mood to lie down and wait for Guardiola’s City juggernaut to mow it over. Still City proved too strong and is in good position to advance to the final.

English champion Chelsea hosted Arsenal in a London derby late Wednesday night in the other semifinal first-leg clash.