MANCHESTER – Kevin de Bruyne’s perfectly-struck 48th-minute goal and a late Raheem Sterling effort gave Manchester City a 2-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk in their Champions League Group F game on Tuesday to make it two wins out of two for Pep Guardiola’s side.
But City’s Argentine striker Sergio Aguero missed a chance to equal the club’s all-time scoring record when he had a 72nd-minute penalty saved by Andriy Pyatov.
The miss left him one goal behind Eric Brooks, who scored 177 goals in all competitions.
After a frustrating first half, in which Shakhtar threatened on the break, while City were too often unable to find the final pass, Belgian De Bruyne broke the deadlock with a fine right-foot shot from the edge of the area after being well set-up by David Silva.
Substitute Sterling missed a great chance from a low De Bruyne cross, but made amends in the final minute when he fired home after good work from Bernardo Silva.
* A Harry Kane hat-trick saw Spurs notch their second win in as many games in Group H, beating Cypriot champions APOEL Nicosia 3-0 in Cyprus.
Kane was left unmarked for his first shortly before halftime following a defensive mix-up, with plenty of time to pick his spot with his left foot.
His second came in the 62nd minute, a right-footed strike from the edge of the box, and five minutes later, he completed his ‘perfect’ hat-trick by heading in a Kieran Trippier cross.
The English side was forced to weather a mini-storm in both halves from the Cypriots, but French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris made two fine saves from Roland Sallai and Stathis Aloneftis.
Spurs now have six points, the same as Real Madrid, who beat Borussia Dortmund 3-1.
A first @ChampionsLeague hat-trick for @HKane! 🙌 #OneOfOurOwn pic.twitter.com/vSXjV7LJas
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) September 26, 2017
* Liverpool wasted a string of chances and needed a first-half equaliser from Philippe Coutinho to secure a 1-1 draw with Spartak Moscow.
Liverpool fell behind when goalkeeper Loris Karius was slow to react to a curling free kick from 25 metres by Spartak’s Fernando, which sailed into the net in the 23nd minute.
Jurgen Klopp’s side were back on level terms, however, eight minutes later when Sadio Mané – returning after a three-match domestic suspension – combined brilliantly with Coutinho, before the Brazilian fired the ball above Spartak goalkeeper Artem Rebrov.
With draws in their first two Champions League fixtures, Liverpool and Spartak have two points, behind Group E leaders Sevilla, who beat Maribor 3-0.
#UCL RESULTS!
Performance of the night? 💪 pic.twitter.com/2BfJwFfcAg
— Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) September 26, 2017