Joe Hart of Manchester City saves the penalty from Raffael of Borussia Monchengladbach during the UEFA Champions League Group D match between VfL Borussia Monchengladbach and Manchester City at the Borussia Park Stadium on September 30, 2015 in Moenchengladbach, Germany. PHOTO/EFE
MONCHENGLADBACH, September 29- Sergio Aguero’s 90th-minute penalty sealed Manchester City’s 2-1 comeback win at Borussia Moenchengladbach on Wednesday in the Champions League to continue the Germans’ spot-kick misery in Europe.
Having opened their debut Champions League campaign with a 3-0 defeat at Sevilla, which included two penalties, Gladbach remain bottom of Group D as they search to replace ex-coach Lucien Favre.
City are now third only on goal-difference after leaders Juventus enjoyed a 2-0 win at home to Sevilla on Wednesday as Manuel Pellegrini’s Citizens bounced back from their opening 2-1 defeat at home to the Italians.
After striker Lars Stindl had put Gladbach ahead at Borussia Park, City came from behind as Andreas Christensen’s own goal put the English team level before Aguero’s winning spot-kick.
The win breathes life back into City’s European aspirations as they bounced back from their 4-1 mauling at Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Saturday.
The result is a set back for Gladbach, who suffered their first defeat under caretaker coach Andre Schubert after two Bundesliga wins since Favre quit on September 20 after five German league defeats.
This was Borussia’s first European match at this level for 37 years and their first defeat to English opposition at home on the continent in six matches.
Only a superb early save prevented City taking an early lead when Wolfsburg goalkeeper Yann Sommer blocked Aguero’s shot with his hip in a reflex save.
At the other end, City’s Joe Hart saved a penalty from Gladbach’s Raffael, who harmlessly pushed his shot to the England goalkeeper’s left to invite the save with 20 minutes gone.
It was poetic justice after the Brazilian had appeared to dive over Nicolas Otamendi’s out-stretched legs.
Only a superb save from Hart on 33 minutes denied Raffael, then Germany winger Patrick Herrmann, as Gladbach kept up the pressure.
City captain Yaya Toure failed to come out for the second-half after aggravating a leg injury the defensive midfielder had picked up in the Spurs’ defeat.
Stindl put Gladbach ahead when Julian Korb’s pass found him unmarked in the area and his shot wrong-footed Hart on 54 minutes.
City drew level 11 minutes later Martin Demichelis’ shot was cleared from behind the line by Korb.
His centre-back partner Otamendi fired home the weak punt out of defence and volleyed his shot into the back of the Gladbach net after the ball deflected off Gladbach’s Christensen.
City got the crucial penalty when Fabian Johnson fouled Aguero in the area and the striker sent Sommer the wrong way and tucked his shot into the bottom right-hand corner.
Only some heroics from the bloodied Swiss goalkeeper at Aguero’s feet in the dying minutes saved City from leaving Germany with a bigger win.
