YAYA TOURE AND SERGIO Aguero scored late goals as Manchester City climbed to second place in the Premier League with a hard-earned 2-0 victory at Aston Villa this evening.
Villa offered dogged resistance, but Toure broke the deadlock with a characteristically languid strike in the 82nd minute and Aguero lashed home a second six minutes later.
Victory takes Manuel Pellegrini’s side to within two points of leaders Chelsea, who host Arsenal on Sunday.
With Eliaquim Mangala back in the team, defending champions City bossed proceedings in the first half at Villa Park without ever truly exposing their hosts.
Aguero hit the post from James Milner’s pass early in the second period, but Villa quickly counter-attacked and City goalkeeper Joe Hart had to save from Kieran Richardson.
Belgian striker Christian Benteke made his return for Villa as a substitute after six months on the sidelines with a ruptured Achilles tendon, but it was City who dominated the closing stages.
David Silva prodded wide and Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan saved from Aguero, Mangala and Frank Lampard, before Toure made the breakthrough with a curling left-foot shot from the edge of the box.
Aguero made the points safe in the 88th minute, gathering a pass from Milner and crashing a shot inside the right-hand post.
So sad to see… one of the worlds most iconic designs.. Commercialism really has taking the soul of out the game..
Barcacroatia?
@Scott Mcsauce bby: Croatialona !
@Limón Madrugada: my thoughts exactly
Iconic design ? Stripes ? They’ve been changing their jersey for ages , some years they were beyond recognition . I actually think this is a nice twist to a jersey thats almost instantly recognisable . But it’s hardly daring . Daring would have FCB wear a nearly all white jersey ..
@Limón Madrugada:
http://archivo.depor.com/amp/futbol-internacional/barcelona-historia-y-cronologia-diseno-sus-camisetas-1044463
Have a look at this and you’ll see it’s not such a radical change .
@Limón Madrugada: Sorry man. You’re right. I was completely out of order thinking it was iconic. I’ll need to do more research before I comment here in the future. Egg on my face.
@John Carroll: nah man you’re entitled to your opinion just as I am ,
@Limón Madrugada: nice link there Limón…very interesting…
@Desmond Cassidy: Limón is always dropping knowledge.
@Limón Madrugada:
So it’s always been stripes.
Liverpool and Man City wearing stripes next year.
Celtic going for the Croatia look?
Kilkenny going for hoops
@Seamus McSpud: i guess you’ll stick to the spuds
Bit late with this. It’s been on show for weeks. Must be a slow day
Laughing stock AGAIN!
@Bryn Capstan: like Ramos getting booked on purpose & telling the world about. Then gets a suspension for it