SERGIO AGUERO doesn't need to prove his class, but that didn't stop him from having a go last night.
The Manchester City striker came off the bench to give his side the advantage in their Europa League last-32 tie with Porto.
The Argentine struck from close range with six minutes remaining as City came from behind to subject the Portuguese champions to a rare defeat at the Estadio do Dragao. The hosts had taken a 27th-minute lead through Silvestre Varela but an Alvaro Pereira own goal gifted City an equaliser.
City, who may have been disappointed to be playing in the competition after their Champions League elimination, will now be confident of completing the job at the Etihad Stadium next Wednesday.
Any suggestions the Barclays Premier League leaders may not have been interested were dispelled as manager Roberto Mancini fielded a strong side. They were up against strong opposition in a Porto team which won the Europa League last year and had not been beaten at home in a major competition all season.
Yaya Toure and Mario Balotelli both returned after international duty and suspension respectively while further forward drive came from David Silva and Samir Nasri. It was Silva who made the early impression, beating Maicon with a nice piece of skill to release Toure in the opening minutes but the Brazilian defender got back to deny the African Nations Cup finalist.
However, the hosts claimed the lead as Hulk broke down the left and crossed low for Varela, who got ahead of Gael Clichy to turn the ball in from close range. City had a chance to equalise immediately but Helton again did well to deny Balotelli after the Italian was put through by Nasri.
The City striker did play a part in his side's equaliser, though. Pereira tried to cut out a Toure cross aimed at Balotelli but the ball struck his shoulder and bounced beyond a wrong-footed Helton into the net.
Aguero came on to replace Balotelli, who was booed off the field by the home fans. They had even less to be happy about when the diminutive striker stroked in.
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