Sergio Aguero shook off two first-half penalty misses to score a hat-trick as Manchester City all but sealed their place in the Champions League group stage with a 5-0 away win over Steaua Bucharest in the first leg of their play-off tie.
The Argentina international had his first attempt from 12 yards saved by goalkeeper Goalkeeper Florin Nita, before blasting a second spot kick over the bar after David Silva’s opener.
Aguero eventually made amends when he doubled City’s lead late in the first half with a calm finish, with Nolito piling even more misery on the hosts in the second half to make it 3-0.
City rounded off an easy win and it was Aguero who had the final say with a late double to complete his treble.
The fourth came in the 78th minute as Aguero converted at the end of an intricate passing move by firing into the bottom-left corner, and he hit home his third in off the post to add further gloss to the scoreline a minute from time.