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As it happenedended

Manchester City vs Monaco as it happened: Sergio Aguero scores a brace as City come out on top

Relive Manchester City's heroic comeback in their eight-goal thriller against Monaco

Luke Brown,Samuel Lovett
Tuesday 21 February 2017 16:51 GMT
Tiemoue Bakayoko vies for the ball with David Silva at the Etihad Stadium
Tiemoue Bakayoko vies for the ball with David Silva at the Etihad Stadium (Getty)

Sergio Aguero struck twice as Manchester City fought back to beat Monaco 5-3 in a sensational Champions League clash at the Etihad Stadium.

City trailed 2-1 at half-time and 3-2 after an hour of a pulsating last 16 first leg encounter but finished with a flourish to peg back the exhilarating Ligue 1 leaders.

Radamel Falcao scored two and missed a penalty for the visitors while teenage star Kylian Mbappe also got on the scoresheet.

But City, who took an early lead through Raheem Sterling and were controversially denied a penalty themselves, roused themselves when it mattered with late goals from John Stones and Leroy Sane securing victory.

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32 mins: Oh, Willy. The ball is played back to Caballero who tries to play a Hollywood, side-of-the-foot pass Claudio Bravo style out to Fernandinho out on the left.

He botches it. Fabinho gets on the ball, looks up, and swings an utterly superb curling pass directly onto the head of the onrushing Radamel Falcao, who gets himself between City's defenders and throws himself towards the ball. It's a good old fashioned diving header and Caballero has no chance. 

Vithushan Ehantharajah21 February 2017 20:20

34 mins: Huge drama! Sergio Aguero is played through and the Argentinian is suddenly one on one with Subasic. He nudges the ball past the 'keeper and is promptly brought down. A penalty and a red, surely?

No! The referee books Aguero for simulation. Replays show that Subasic clearly made contact with Aguero however.

On the touchline, Guardiola is furious. 

Vithushan Ehantharajah21 February 2017 20:22

37 mins: Caballero is having a shocker. City are repeatedly playing the ball back to their goalkeeper and Caballero is struggling with the demands of playing it out of defence, repeatedly taking too much time on the ball and inviting Monaco pressure.

Monaco are currently enjoying a much better spell with Lemar making two powerful runs down the right. And then, in the space of thirty seconds, two City players pick up needless bookings in the middle of the park.

Sterling and Fernandinho both go into the book. The former will miss the second leg. 

Vithushan Ehantharajah21 February 2017 20:26

GOAL! Manchester City 1-2 Monaco (Mbappe 40)

The ridiculously talented 18-year-old gives Monaco the lead, and a potentially priceless second away goal!

Vithushan Ehantharajah21 February 2017 20:27

41 mins: Wow. Fabinho takes a free-kick inside his own half and plays it down the right. Mbappe is onto it, outpacing a hapless Otamendi, bringing it under control, and slamming a shot past Caballero high into the top right corner of the City goal. A sublimely confident finish. 

That goal means Monaco are now the top scorers in the competition this season.

Vithushan Ehantharajah21 February 2017 20:29

42 mins: City go close to an instant equaliser! Sane chips the ball across the goal, Subasic makes a meal of it, and Raggi clears it off the line.

Moments later, Monaco counter and Falcao has the ball on the edge of the box. He shapes inside, but slams his shot into the side-netting. 

Vithushan Ehantharajah21 February 2017 20:30

44 mins: City ending the half strongly. Sterling gets onto the ball in the box, but his pass to Aguero is hacked clear.

Vithushan Ehantharajah21 February 2017 20:31

Half-time: Manchester City 1-2 Monaco

And that's it! No injury-time is played and Manchester City are booed off the pitch. What a fantastic first-half.

Vithushan Ehantharajah21 February 2017 20:32

A concerning half-time stat for Manchester City fans...

Vithushan Ehantharajah21 February 2017 20:40

We're underway again at the Etihad Stadium!

Vithushan Ehantharajah21 February 2017 20:49

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