MANCHESTER CITY KEPT their quadruple hopes alive after coming back from two goals down to win 3-2 at Swansea City in the FA Cup quarter-finals thanks to Sergio Aguero’s controversial late header.
Pep Guardiola’s men looked to be heading out of the competition at the hands of second-tier opposition, but three goals in the final 21 minutes saw City come back from the brink, as Aguero – who appeared to be offside – nodded in the late clincher.
Although the Premier League champions initially looked bright, a confident Matt Grimes penalty put Swansea in the ascendancy and they doubled their advantage with an exceptionally worked Bersant Celina goal against his former club.
The visitors upped the ante after the break and pulled one back through Bernardo Silva, before an Aguero penalty went in off goalkeeper Kristoffer Nordfeldt.
And, just when Swansea looked to have held on to force extra time, Aguero completed the comeback two minutes from the end to send City to Wembley.
City made a fine start and went close three times in the first 15 minutes, but Swansea capitalised soon after – Grimes coolly dispatching a penalty after Fabian Delph tripped Connor Roberts.
It was 2-0 before the half-hour mark as Swansea brilliantly carved through City and Nathan Dyer teed up Celina, who found the top-right corner with a curling effort from just inside the box.
City were back in it in the 69th minute when substitute Aguero saw a shot come back off Jay Fulton’s face and the Argentina striker subsequently teed up Silva for a fine outside-of-the-foot finish.
Guardiola’s side were level 12 minutes from the end, with Aguero’s penalty – after Cameron Carter-Vickers was adjudged to have tripped Raheem Sterling – coming back off the post and going in off the unlucky Nordfeldt.
With City piling on the pressure, there was an air of inevitability about the winner, which arrived when the prolific Aguero met Silva’s cross with a well-placed header into the bottom-left corner.
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When will this blatant poor refereeing end.
@Barry Kelleher: never. Ref mistakes are part and parcel of the game. Even VAR won’t eliminate mistakes
@IrishSportives.ie: Things that are up to interpretation will probably never be fully corrected but both of these decisions would have been overturned.
@IrishSportives.ie: Decision wasn’t even a close one as he was clearly off
@Barry Kelleher: where was Var?
Every game for about three months now Man City have gotten decisions in their favour. Bad ones too, going right back to Kompany cleaning out Salah as the last man but getting a yellow… Offsides, penalties. It’s remarkable.
@James Doyle: poor James
@David Weston: you get me wrong, man. I’m delighted City have another game in April.
Just pointing out the reality of this incredible lucky streak they’re on with refs, and keeping in mind the old maxim “it all evens out over a season”.
There’s some evening out to be had, in that case. And that will be fun.
Offside winner and the penalty was never a foul. VAR can’t come soon enough.
The more games they play the better for Liverpool
@Willy Motley: go on….
Was a great tackle to win the ball for pen. How could they not see change in flight. Var should be in every stadium
@Yorkie1892: it is in Swanseas stadium but can’t be used as there not in the top division of the game was at the eitihad car would have been used
@Colm Connolly: Ridiculous though, they had VAR there last season but they went down a division so the FA won’t have it implemented there.
It’s a shame such a prestigious cup is rigged
It was a valiant effort overshadowed by poor refereeing. Bercant Celina has been electric all season. Come you Jacks.
@Succulent Goujons: and Danny James tearing Otamendi and Laporte new ones. Shame they aren’t that motivated more often!
Selective VAR introduction making a mockery of the FA Cup yet again..