Manchester City's Eliaquim Mangala saves against Bristol City's Frank Fielding and Aden Flint in first-half action of Tuesday's Carabao Cup first-leg semifinal at Etihad Stadium on Manchester. — Reuters MANCHESTER, Jan 10 (AP): Sergio Aguero netted in stoppage time to give quadruple-chasing Manchester City a 2-1 victory over Bristol City in the first leg of their English League Cup semifinal on Tuesday.
Despite leading the Premier League by 15 points, Man City was given a stern test by the second-tier visitors who took the lead through Bobby Reid's penalty in the 44th minute.
After Kevin De Bruyne's well-worked 55th-minute equalizer, Man City had to wait until the substitute Aguero headed in Bernardo Silva's cross to ensure Pep Guardiola's side has the edge going into the second leg in two weeks in southwest England. "(We're) disappointed to concede late on but we can hold our heads high," he told broadcaster Sky Sports. "We played very well today, could have had a couple more goals but we pushed probably the best team in the world all the way.
"We're still in the contest. We're disappointed but we're looking forward to the next game." The gulf in status between the sides wasn't always obvious.
Bristol City attacked with pace and confidence. Joe Bryan, who scored a spectacular goal in the quarterfinal win over Manchester United, was often leading the charge at Etihad Stadium.
Hordur Magnusson's long throw-ins also proved troublesome for the hosts to handle with one delivery into the box eventually falling for Jamie Paterson to shoot. City defender John Stones blocked. Bryan tried his luck himself after De Bruyne lost the ball, and Marlon Pack also hit a shot from the edge of the area but Man City goalkeeper Claudio Bravo saved both efforts.
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