As soon as the final whistle sounded, Pep Guardiola made a beeline for Lee Johnson to warmly embrace his Bristol City counterpart. The Manchester City manager knew his team had been in a game but the Catalan’s words will have been cold comfort for Johnson.
His team were just seconds away from becoming only the second team to deny the runaway Premier League leaders victory at the Etihad Stadium this season and taking a hugely creditable result into the return leg of this League Cup semi-final.
The tie may still have some life in it yet but Sergio Aguero’s 92nd minute winner for City was a cruel sucker punch for Bristol and will leave the Championship side facing an enormous task trying to prevent Guardiola’s side from reaching Wembley in a fortnight.
There were 20 minutes left when Aguero entered the fray. Bristol had been excellent up to that point and good value for the 1-1 scoreline but tired legs can lead to tired minds and their concentration lapsed at the crucial moments. John Stones pushed the ball out to Bernardo Silva and from there the Portugal playmaker whipped a cross over the head of the despairing Aden Flint for Aguero to head home.
It was a the perfect end to a frustrating night for Manchester City.
The Blues snatched a 2-1 win over Bristol City in the first-leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final tie.
In a lethargic opening City came close as Kevin de Bruyne tested the keeper with a number of speculative long shots.
However, despite dominating much of the early action, the Blues went in behind at the break as Bobby Reid smashed in a penalty just before half-time.
Pep Guardiola's side came out with energy in the second-half and immediately tested the visitors when Leroy Sane smashed a low driven shot just wide of the goal.
City finally equalised ten minutes after the break when de Bruyne drilled in a low shot to finish off an electric counter-attack.
The comeback was complete in the final minute of added time as Sergio Aguero headed the Blues into a late lead.
Scroll down to see how the action unfolded at the Etihad.
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The hosts required an injury-time winner by Sergio Agüero to see off brave, battling and occasionally brilliant Bristol City.
