LATE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ACTION
But spot-kick miss isn’t too costly as Kevin and Raheem seal victory
SERGIO AGUERO missed the chance to make history as Manchester City racked up their seventh successive victory.
The Argentinian should have drawn level with Eric Brook as City’s all-time leading scorer on 177 goals but his penalty was saved.
Aguero’s miss may have denied him the record but Kevin de Bruyne made sure it did not cost City as he opened the scoring with a fine strike.
The Belgian midfielder won the ball before curling home from 25 yards to claim his first goal since May 16.
Raheem Sterling, who might have also had a penalty, made sure of it in the last minute when he scored off the underside of the bar.
Hero de Bruyne said: “I definitely think it is not my best game but it is the way it goes. It was hard graft but this team can play. “We were better in the second half when we created more chances and in the end it was a deserved victory. “Aguero is our No.1 penalty taker. Even if he misses, we have confidence in him and he will get a few more penalties in his career.” City gaffer Pep Guardiola will have be pleased with this result won through discipline and resilience against the slick Ukrainians.
De Bruyne’s curler from outside the area took Shakhtar keeper Andriy Pyatov by surprise as it smuggled inside his post just after the break.
But Pyatov redeemed himself as he prolonged Aguero’s march to the City scoring record, keeping out the penalty after Leroy Sane had been shunted and shoved by Ivan Ordets.
City’s resilience was always going to see them through even before Sterling belted home an assist from fellow sub Bernardo Silva.
The Ukrainians might have had a penalty towards the end when the ball struck John Stones’ arm.
City’s seventh straight win puts them in command of Group F and they have a three-point lead heading into their double-header with Napoli.