Match Report..... Manchester City 3-2 Bayern Munich: Incredible Aguero rescues qualification hopes

Manuel Pellegrini's side were heading out of the Champions
League against a side who were down to 10 men for the majority before the Argentine bagged his second and third late

Hat-trick hero Sergio Aguero turned the game on its head to keep Manchester City's hopes of Champions League qualification very much alive with a turnaround 3-2 victory over 10-man Bayern Munich at the Etihad Stadium.

Manuel Pellegrini's men took the lead from the penalty spot through the Argentine midway through the first half, the spot kick won in an incident that saw Mehdi Benatia given his marching orders.

But Bayern made it look as if City were the team at a disadvantage, with Joe Hart at fault when Xabi Alonso's free kick found the net before Robert Lewandowski struck a second German goal just before half-time.

However, the hosts - who looked short of the required level for much of the game - pounced on a rare misplaced pass from birthday-boy Alonso for Stevan Jovetic to set up Aguero near the end of normal time.

And the striker again punished a defensive error as the game ticked over into stoppages to complete an unexpected comeback for his hat-trick.

A win away at Roma would now secure City's passage in second place behind Bayern, provided that the already-qualified German champions beat CSKA Moscow at home.

Samir Nasri had a first-minute shot blocked and Frank Lampard, starting due to suspensions for fellow midfielders Yaya Toure and Fernandinho, looped a header over before Bayern established an ominous rhythm.

A chipped pass from Arjen Robben caught out City defenders Eliaquim Mangala and Gael Clichy and meant that Hart had to be out sharply to deny Sebastian Rode.

It was an otherwise assured start by Mangala, who made a vital 19th-minute block to thwart Rafinha as City looked to pin Bayern back with some fine long passing - an approach that soon handed them a major advantage.

Aguero got the better of Benatia chasing a lofted ball from Lampard and referee Pavel Kralovec had little option but to dismiss the defender when he hacked his man to ground. City's top scorer stroked the resulting penalty past Manuel Neuer and, from there, the home team played with increasing confidence - often orchestrated by the evergreen Lampard.

But Bayern brilliantly turned the game on its head in the five minutes before half-time. Some trademark slick passing drew a foul from Mangala on Lewandowski and Alonso marked his 33rd birthday by guiding a 20-yard free kick into the bottom corner, as Hart left himself unsighted.

Making light of their numerical disadvantage, Bayern then controlled possession, culminating inLewandowksi stealing in between Vincent Kompany and Bacary Sagna to send Robben's cross looping into the net.

Alonso pounced on a slack pass from Mangala to Fernando and scooped a return ball from Robben over as City stumbled into the second half.

Jesus Navas's pace down the right flank continued to prove a useful outlet for the hosts and Neuer was down well to turn a 49th-minute strike from the Spain winger behind, while James Milner arched a curling strike over as City probed for the equaliser.

But Pellegrini's men frustratingly struggled to mount sustained pressure, with a rasping 30-yard drive from Lampard offering Neuer further fleeting involvement with 20 minutes to play.

Clear chances remained elusive for the English champions until an uncharacteristically slack pass from Alonso was intercepted by Jovetic. Aguero still had plenty to do but he darted in on goal to slide the ball past Neuer before he stepped up again to provide even more late drama.

Aguero found Boateng to be in similarly charitable mood in stoppage time to net the decisive third, ensuring that all roads in City's Champions League destiny now lead to Rome