NAPLES, Italy: Sergio Aguero became Manchester City’s all-time record scorer and was described as “a legend” by coach Pep Guardiola whose side booked their place in the Champions League last 16 with a 4-2 win at Napoli.
The 29-year-old Argentine beat the old mark of 177 set by Eric Brook in the 1930s when he hit City’s third goal in Naples, then promised to give his shirt to his eight-year-old son Benjamin — the grandson of Argentina and Napoli legend Diego Maradona.
“This shirt is for my son, he texted me to say: “As soon as you score, bring me the shirt’,” said Aguero.
“I am bringing the shirt back to my son. My family called from Argentina, they were watching me.”
Aguero’s son was born from his marriage to Giannina Maradona, the daughter of Diego.
And Aguero achieved his new landmark at the San Paolo Stadium where Maradona made himself a Neapolitan icon between 1984 and 1991, winning two Serie A titles and the UEFA Cup.
“What he (Aguero) has achieved has made him a legend, he’s gone down in history, so I would tell him to enjoy,” said Guardiola.
Aguero paid tribute to his team-mates for his record 178 goals.
“I’m very happy for this moment and happy because the team help support me and the fans.
“I’ll enjoy this moment because it only happens once.
“Napoli are a good team and away always in the Champions League is difficult.”
The Premier League leaders had needed just a point to seal their berth in the knockout rounds for the fifth consecutive year, with two games to go.
But City’s fourth victory out of four in Group F confirmed their progress with 12 points.
Napoli are third, six points behind Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk who beat Dutch outfit Feyenoord 3-1, and are close to elimination from the elite European competition.
The new benchmark is just another for the man from Buenos Aires who joined City from Atletico Madrid in 2011 for £38 million, scoring two goals and assisting one on his debut against Swansea.
He currently has the best goals-to-minutes ratio in Premier League history — scoring 107 in 154 Premier League matches at a rate of a goal every 106 minutes.
City fought back despite a dominant early display from the Serie A leaders before they were damaged after defender Faouzi Ghoulam went off with a knee injury.
“They completely destroyed us in the first 20 minutes especially Ghoulam and I wish him well,” said Guardiola. “We suffered a lot but our players showed personality.
“The point is how in the bad moments the team react and they did really well. The level of football for a spectator was just amazing all I could say was ‘wow’.”
Lorenzo Insigne had opened for Napoli after 21 minutes with defender Nicolas Otamendi pulling City level on 35 minutes.
City’s John Stones edged the visitors ahead three minutes after the break. But to the delight of the home crowd Jorginho converted a penalty to make it 2-2 after 62 minutes.
Aguero then fired in the third seven minutes later after Leroy Sane broke forward. The ball eventually fell to the Argentine who scored his record-breaking goal before Raheem Sterling put the icing on the cake in injury time.
While many believe the emphatic triumph was a warning for the rest of Europe, Aguero said the win meant little for the rest of the season.
“Napoli is a good team,” he said. “Playing away in the Champions League is difficult.
“I am very happy to win and qualify. We must keep going in the same way, every game, playing the same way.
“(Tonight) it shows nothing. It is a long season.
“Now, we are good. We must continue the same way.”
Aguero’s son, Maradona’s grandson, proud owner of record shirt
Aguero’s son, Maradona’s grandson, proud owner of record shirt
Shayan Jahangir and Jordan Cox ensure Dubai Capitals a play-off spot
- The defending champions become the third team after Desert Vipers and MI Emirates to make the playoffs of DP World ILT20 Season 4
DUBAI: Shayan Jahangir and Jordan Cox registered fifties to help defending champions Dubai Capitals sail into the play-offs with a strong six-wicket win over Sharjah Warriorz on Christmas Eve at the Dubai International Stadium.
Jahangir was also resourceful behind the stumps, getting dangerman Tom Kohler-Cadmore out in an impressive all-round performance.
Chasing 135, Dubai Capitals made light work of the target with an early blitz by Jahangir and an unbeaten Cox, who set the Dubai International Stadium ablaze scoring 61 off 50 balls with six fours and one six. His effort also fetched him the green belt, putting him on top of the highest scorers list in the tournament so far.
Jahangir and Cox set up a partnership of 76 runs off 63 balls after they lost opening batter Sediqullah Atal with just 17 on board. It was Harmeet Singh who bowled him out, but it took the Warriorz a lifetime to find another breakthrough. However, Sikandar Raza’s over made up for the long wicket-less spells as he picked up two crucial back-to-back wickets — that of half-centurion Jahangir and Mohammad Nabi in the 14th over. Jahangir was caught at long-on by Kohler-Cadmore while Nabi (4 off 4) holed out to deep square leg.
Taskin Ahmed packed off Leus Du Plooy (5 off 6) in the 17th over, but the Capitals were already racing towards victory at this point. Jordon Cox became the cynosure of the chase, breaking no sweat to make the target in five balls to spare.
The Dubai Capitals’ bowlers had also done exceedingly well, restricting the Warriorz total to a paltry 134/8 with Haider Ali and Waqar Salamkheil picking up two wickets each. Ali was extremely economical too, giving away just 13 runs in four overs. David Willey, Mustafizur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi bagged a wicket each, contributing to the Capitals’ third successive victory that has landed them in the play-offs.
Asked to bat first, Sharjah Warriorz had an uneventful outing at the crease. Just as the opening batters were settling in, the Warriorz received an early jolt when Monank Patel (24 off 13) was run out by a quick-thinking David Willey. A mix up in the middle, Patel was sent back by Charles (43 off 46) with Willey at arm’s length from the bails. Losing a wicket in the fifth over with just 34 runs on board was a setback and it did not help the Warriorz cause when Haider Ali bowled Tom Abell (9 off 10 balls).
Kohler-Cadmore (3 off 4) followed suit. He was stumped by Shayan Jahangir while attempting to go big off Haider Ali but he was nowhere close to the ball and Jahangir was bang-on.
With just 65/3 on board in 10 overs, the Warriorz needed a solid partnership that could keep them afloat on a slow track at the Ring of Fire. There was still some hope with opener Johnson Charles piloting the innings and power hitter Sikandar Raza joining him after Kohler-Cadmore’s dismissal. Raza was also gifted a new lease of life when Jahangir dropped a simple catch off Haider Ali’s ball. Unfortunately, Raza (8 off 11) could not muster much from this opportunity as he lost his wicket, in a caught-and-bowled effort by Mustafizur Rahman.
Charles followed a couple of overs after, when he was attempting to pull towards the long-on boundary, but Willey took a fine low catch ending Charles’ batting prowess with two boundaries and two sixes.
From here on, the Warriorz were on a spiral, losing almost four wickets in the death overs but for the 24 runs coming off the final two overs. Adil Rashid and Harmeet Singh scored a quick 14 runs each. Tim Southee (5 off 2) contributed towards the Warriorz’ total to a chasable 134/8 in 20 overs.
Player of the match Cox said: “It was quite tough against spin, but when the seamers came on, we tried to put them under pressure. Jahangir was very impressive. We’ve been encouraging him to be aggressive, and it was great to watch from the other end. For me, it was about not leaving it to the next man.”
Sharjah Warriorz captain Southee commented: “We had to keep taking wickets to be in with a chance. The nature of the wickets is keeping sides in it for long. Not over for us. One game left, we win that and give ourselves a chance.”
