NEWCASTLE 1 - MANCHESTER CITY 1
Anita gives Newcastle hope as Agüero brings up century
Sergio Agüero's 100th Premier League goal was not enough for Man City to force victory as they were held 1-1 at relegation-threatened Newcastle United.
Sergio Agüero's 100th Premier League goal was not enough for Manchester City to force victory as they were held to a 1-1 draw at relegation-threatened Newcastle United on Tuesday.
Agüero, City's top scorer, claimed his landmark goal after 14 minutes, but Manuel Pellegrini's side were pegged back before half-time as Dutch international Vurnon Anita found the net for the first time in more than two years to earn a deserved point for Rafael Benítez's side.
City remain third, a point ahead of Arsenal and five points above Manchester United, trailing leaders Leicester City by 12 points.
A draw left Newcastle two points adrift of safety, but they will retain hope of puling off an unlikely escape in their remaining four games if they can reproduce this level of performance.
They were indebted to a fine display from Karl Darlow, their third-choice goalkeeper, who kept out efforts from Jesus Navas, Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne in a nervy second half.
The hosts might even have won it at the death when substitute Georginio Wijnaldum had a close-range shot blocked by City goalkeeper Joe Hart.
City, who recalled captain Vincent Kompany after a month out with a calf injury, went ahead in the 14th minute, though the hosts had justifiable claims that the effort should not have stood.
After he was fouled by Andros Townsend, Aleksandar Kolarov swung a free-kick into the Newcastle area from City's left.
Congratulations, @aguerosergiokun! The Argentine becomes the 25th player to score 100 #BPL goals pic.twitter.com/YIJzMSpZf5
— Premier League (@premierleague) 19 April 2016
The officials missed Agüero returning from an offside position as the set-piece was taken and the Argentinian rose to send a glancing near-post header beyond Darlow from six yards out.
It has taken Agüero just 147 games to score 100 Premier League goals, with only Alan Shearer - who was at St James' Park as part of the BBC's radio match commentary team - reaching the landmark more quickly, in 124 appearances.
De Bruyne came close to doubling the advantage when the Belgian was gifted possession by Jamaal Lascelles, but the prolific midfielder shot narrowly wide.
Moussa Sissoko should have drawn the hosts level just before the half-hour, but the Frenchman lacked conviction after intercepting a Kolarov pass and sprinting 50 yards, sending a tame shot straight at Hart from just inside the area.
But Sissoko did not have to wait long to make amends as he played a significant role in the 31st-minute equaliser, sweeping a ball out to Anita, who had advanced to the edge of the City area from his auxiliary right-back role.
The Dutchman cut inside Kolarov onto his left foot and curled in a low shot that beat Hart and found the net via the foot of the left-hand post for a stunning leveller.
Anita (third right) equalises for Newcastle on Tuesday night. Michael Regan (Getty Images)
City started the second period on the front foot, with Agüero having a penalty claimed waved away by well-placed referee Kevin Friend after the forward went down in a penalty area tussle with Chancel Mbemba.
Darlow then had to dive full-stretch to his right to claw away an angled drive from Navas at a swiftly taken free-kick, as the visitors piled on the pressure in their attempts to retake the lead.
They failed to do so, in the process seeing their 12-game winning run against the Tyneside club brought to an end to leave their top-four hopes very much in the balance.
Line-ups
Rafa Benítez
4-2-3-1
-
5
Wijnaldum
On for Townsend
-
16
R. Aarons
On for Ayoze Pérez
-
45
Mitrovic
On for P. Cissé
- 10 De Jong
- 12 Shelvey
- 23 Saivet
- 41 Woodman
Manuel Pellegrini
4-2-3-1
-
25
Fernandinho
On for Yaya Toure
-
14
Wilfried Bony
On for Jesús Navas
-
7
Sterling
On for Delph
- 72 K. Iheanacho
- 13 Caballero
- 26 Demichelis
- 30 Otamendi
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