3
- Sergio Aguero 22 pen
- Sergio Aguero 85
- Sergio Aguero 90 +0:29
2
- Xabi Alonso 40
- Robert Lewandowski 45
- A late, late winner from hat-trick hero Sergio Aguero left Manchester City with a great chance of advancing to the last 16
Somehow, by some miracle of mathematics and against all logic, Manchester City are still in Europe. Not just in, but very much contenders. A draw in Rome could do it. A win almost certainly would. The Last Chance Saloon that has been their local almost since this group began remains open.
How, heaven knows? It is one of those inexplicable concepts like black holes or universal infinity. City scored two late goals, beat Bayern Munich and are in the box seat to qualify. Perhaps that nice Dr Brian Cox can explain it.
Sergio Aguero runs away in celebration after sealing victory and his hat-trick with a last-minute strike against Bayern Munich
Aguero had made it 2-2 just minutes earlier as he capitalised on a mistake from Bayern midfielder Xabi Alonso
That they got a win here at all was thanks to the most unlikely phenomenon – a misplaced pass from Xabi Alonso. Pitch perfect for the rest of the game, a square one was cut out by substitute Stevan Jovetic with five minutes remaining and City were free.
Sergio Aguero was on goal like a flash, drew Manuel Neuer and stuck it in the corner, his second of the night. What a player. Take him away and where on earth would City be this season?
Out of this tournament that’s for sure. In the last minute, he won the game. This time it was an error by Jerome Boateng that left him one on one. Nobody was in any doubt about the outcome from there. The finish was sublime. Aguerrroooo – as the like to say around these parts.
These are the first points Munich have dropped in the competition this season but at times it looked embarrassing for Manuel Pellegrini and his men, making such hard work of it from the outset. They were a man and a goal up midway through the first-half, surrendered that lead before half-time and a Frank Lampard shot in the second-half aside barely threatened until gifted a return to the game.
Manuel Neuer saved the Lampard effort – strong hands as ever – but he should have been under siege, not dealing with pot shots from a 36-year-old. City were missing big names – Yaya Toure and David Silva – but that is no excuse. Enough has been spent here for there to be strength in depth and the defence was strong. They should not need Aguero’s rescue act. They should be about more than the magnificence of one player.
More to follow...
Bayern's Moroccan defender Mehdi Benatia slides in on Sergio Aguero with the Manchester City striker through on goal and in the box
Aguero appeals for a penalty as he is upended by Benatia, who made no contact with the ball
Benatia appeals in vain as he is shown a red card in tby Czech referee Pavel Kralovec to hand the advantage to Man City
Aguero opts to side-foot his penalty as Bayern's Xabi Alonso (left) and Jerome Boateng hope to capitalise on any rebound
Aguero sends the ball sailing to the left-hand post of Bayern's German international goalkeeper Manuel Neuer
Aguero wheels away in celebration after giving Manchester City a 1-0 lead against the 10 men of Bayern Munich
Aguero is congratulated by his City team-mates - led by captain Vincent Kompany - after he put the home side in the driving seat
Xabi Alonso surprises Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart by opting to side-foot his free-kick towards the far corner of the goal
A wrong-footed Hart can only watch as Alonso's effort rolls past him and in to the bottom-left corner of his goal
Alonso takes the plaudits after he dumbfounded the England No 1 to draw Bayern back level in the first half
The Bayern players celebrate their equaliser in unison as City midfielder Frank Lampard (left) looks to the heavens
Hart is beaten once more, this time by Robert Lewandowski's shoulder as the striker beat Bacary Sagna to a cross
Lewandowski punches the air in delight after giving Bayern the lead for the first time in the match
Aguero and Fernando look shell-shocked as City head back for the re-start with their lead having been blown away
Aguero slots home with his left foot after racing away from Dante as Stevan Jovetic capitalised on an uncharacteristic error from Alonso
Aguero holds off the challenge of Rafinha to score his second in a matter of minutes and third of the night to seal a remarkable victory
Aguero celebrates the late winner knowing he has kept alive Manchester City's Champions League hopes
