Manchester City took control of their Champions League last-16 tie with Dynamo Kiev with a 3-1 victory in the first leg in Ukraine.
Manuel Pellegrini fielded his strongest possible starting line-up after resting several senior players for Sunday's FA Cup thrashing at Chelsea, with the recalled Sergio Aguero requiring just 15 minutes to open the scoring.
Kiev, whose last competitive fixture came in the group stage against Maccabi Tel Aviv on December 9, were second-best to City in the first half, who doubled their lead when David Silva finished off a fine team move.
City were the only side in the last 16 who failed to keep a clean sheet in the group stage, and their defence was breached for the ninth Champions League game in a row when Vitaliy Buyalsky's shot deflected in off Nicolas Otamendi.
The visitors remained compact to keep Dynamo's attack - and Andriy Yarmolenko in particular - largely frustrated, while Joe Hart made a fine late stop to deny Buyalskiy a second and preserve City's lead.
And Yaya Toure took advantage of his goalkeeper's efforts with a stunning late third goal that will see City head into the return leg at the Etihad Stadium confident of qualifying for the quarter-finals for the first time.
Kiev started promisingly in front of a vociferous support - returning after a UEFA-imposed absence in their side's final group game - with Yarmolenko forcing Hart to tip the ball onto the top of the crossbar after City failed to clear a free-kick.
But the visitors quickly found their feet and capitalised on dismal home defending to snatch the lead. Silva's corner was nodded down by Toure and Aguero was allowed time and space to chest the ball down and smash a finish past Oleksandr Shovkovskiy from just six yards out.
Aguero then fizzed a shot just wide and Toure forced Shovkovskiy into a smart low stop on the break, before another slick passing move doubled City's lead before the break. Aguero brought down Gael Clichy's clip into the left channel and backheeled the ball into the path of Raheem Sterling, who crossed for Silva to tap in at the far post.
Aguero dragged a shot wide after being played through one-on-one by Fernandinho before Fernando nodded Silva's free-kick over from six yards as City pressed on before the break.
Yarmolenko arrowed an effort past the far post as Dynamo looked for a lifeline early in the second half, and a stroke of fortune handed them just that with 58 minutes played. Otamendi's clearing header bounced out to Buyalskiy, whose half-volley from the edge of the area took a deflection off the centre-back and nestled in the corner of the net.
Although Silva was denied a penalty after a challenge from Danilo Silva, Pellegrini's side lost their grip on the contest as they began to be pegged back by Dynamo, who saw substitute Miguel Veloso just fail to control Yarmolenko's pass with the visitors outnumbered at the back.
Fernandinho had his own penalty appeals waved away when he went to ground after twisting his way into the area, while City had Hart to thank at the other end as the England goalkeeper saved superbly low to his right to deny Buyalskiy.
Toure then headed wide from just five yards out but soon made amends to put City in the driving seat with the goal of the game in the dying minutes, playing a neat one-two with Fernandinho before bending a shot left-footed beyond Shovkovskiy from the edge of the area.
(goal.com)
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