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Manchester City stunned by last-gasp Middlesbrough equaliser

Carl Recine / Reuters

Manchester - Marten De Roon's dramatic stoppage-time header cancelled out Sergio Aguero's first-half goal and earned Middlesbrough a point with a 1-1 draw at Manchester City on Saturday.

Aguero touched in his 150th City goal from Kevin De Bruyne's low cross to cap a dominant first-half performance from Pep Guardiola's side.

But the Citizens could not match it in the second, despite creating several good chances, and were caught late on as Dutch midfielder De Roon powered in George Friend's cross for his first goal since joining Boro from Atalanta for £12 million in the summer.

The point was enough for City to go a point clear of Arsenal and Liverpool, who both play on Sunday, whilst Chelsea could go top late Saturday if it beats Everton.

It secured a terrific result for Aitor Karanka's side, but was desperately disappointing for Guardiola, four days after his side had produced an outstanding performance to defeat Barcelona in the Champions League.

Guardiola decided to give centre-back Nicolas Otamendi and winger Raheem Sterling a rest after a hectic recent schedule, while Claudio Bravo returned in goal, having been suspended for the midweek win over Barcelona.

There was no place in the squad, though, for Yaya Toure, despite his apology for criticism aimed at the manager by his agent Dimitri Seluk.

City dominated the opening half, but had to be patient in the face of some resolute defending and inspired goalkeeping by Victor Valdes.

The former Manchester United keeper, returning to the city for the first time since leaving Old Trafford, made a series of excellent stops.

But he could do nothing two minutes before half-time as Aguero nipped in between two defenders for the opening goal.

Middlesbrough, who lacked any kind of attacking intent in the first half, began the second more positively.

Former City striker Alvaro Negredo almost equalised with an outrageous lob from the halfway line, but the ball was tipped over by a backpedalling Bravo, who then dashed from his line moments later to block at the feet of Adam Forshaw.

Guardiola's team battled to reassert itself, without regaining first-half levels of superiority.

The impressive Ilkay Gundogan bounced a shot wide from the edge of the penalty area after a De Bruyne ball from the left had bobbled into his path, while Aguero headed over from the Belgian's cross.

City could have made sure of victory, with Aguero missing a good chance to make certain of victory has he floated a shot wide from a Navas pull-back, and De Bruyne blazing over after Valdes had failed to gather a long cross on the edge of his penalty area.

Guardiola's men were left to rue their missed opportunities, as De Roon stole a point for his side with a bullet header in the 91st minute.

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