Aguero bags treble as rampant City hit Huddersfield for six
MANCHESTER, Uni t ed Kingdom: Sergio Aguero hit a hat- trick as Manchester City’s record-breaking forward inspired a 6-1 demolition of Huddersfield on Sunday.
Pep Guardiola’s champions opened their home campaign with a pre-match display of ticker tape and exploding fireworks and Aguero continued the pyrotechnics on the field.
Aguero, who turned 30 in the close- season, has now scored 14 times in his last eight Premier League games at City’s Etihad Stadium.
The Argentina star — City’s all- time leading scorer — joins former Liverpool forward Robbie Fowler on nine Premier League hat-tricks.
Only ex-Newcastle and Blackburn star Alan Shearer has scored more in the competition’s history with 11.
City’srampantdisplayunderlined why they are such strong favourites to retain their title.
Such is City’s strength in depth, Guardiola was able to leave Kyle Walker, Riyad Mahrez and Raheem Sterling on the bench.
And even though City learned this week that playmaker Kevin De Bruyne will be out for up to three months with a knee injury, the fact Guardiola was able to name substitutes which cost his club 230 million ( 293 million) in transfer fees, was a sobering thought for their rivals.
After relentless City pressure, which featured Guardiola’s team having 80 percent possession, the champions finally took the lead on 25 minutes, the start of a three-goal blitz inside 10 minutes.
Ederson, Guardiola’s bal lplaying goalkeeper, struck a magnificent pass over 60 yards, isolating Aguero against defender Christopher Schindler.
The Argentine skilfully held off his marker, twisting and turning before lobbing the ball over keeper Ben Hamer, who had advanced to the edge of his area, from the edge of the area.
Six minutes later, Benjamin Mendy attacked down the left, exchanging passes with Gabriel Jesus, who enjoyed a fortunate ricochet off a defender before drilling the ball home.
And the rout continued when Hamer fumbled a routine Mendy cross and Aguero pounced, tapping in from six yards.
David Silva had set the tone with a majestic opening half-hour, torturing the Huddersfield defence and allowing the City supporters to forget about the absence of De Bruyne.
But, incredibly, Huddersfield scored from their first attack of the game, three minutes before the interval.
Philip Billing’s long throw-in was helped on by Steve Mounie and Jon Gorenc Stankovic responded quickly, forcing the ball in from six yards. — AFP