Aguero keeps City’s European dream alive

SERGIO Aguero revived Manchester City’s Champions League hopes with a sensational hat–trick against Bayern Munich.

The prolific Argentinian struck twice in the last five minutes as City snatched an extraordinary 3–2 win over the 10–man Bayern side at the Etihad Stadium.

The victory was City’s first in a dismal Champions League campaign and lifted them level with Roma and CSKA Moscow in a tight three–way battle to join Bayern as Group ‘E’ qualifiers.

City seemed to have squandered the opportunity Aguero gave them in opening the scoring with a 22nd–minute penalty after Medhi Benatia was sent off for hauling him down in the area.

The brilliant Xabi Alonso and Robert Lewandowski replied for Bayern before half–time but Aguero refused to concede defeat and pounced on two late errors to turn the match on its head.

City captain Vincent Kompany hailed the brilliance of Aguero, who has now scored 17 goals this season.

Kompany said: “If you want to succeed at anything, you need a special player in a special form, otherwise you don’t win anything. He’s our special player.”