Aguero saves Man City from shock FA Cup exit

LONDON: Sergio Aguero scored a hat-trick as Manchester City escaped a huge FA Cup upset by coming from behind to win 4-2 at home to second-tier Watford on Saturday.

Beaten Championship play-off finalists last season, Watford went 2-0 up inside 30 minutes through Fernando Forestieri and Troy Deeney to leave free-scoring City at risk of a shock defeat.

However, Aguero struck three times in the last half an hour, with Aleksandar Kolarov also on target, to send last season´s beaten finalists into the fifth round.

With Watford 15th in the Championship, they were given little chance of pulling off an upset at the Etihad Stadium, but they took the lead in the 21st minute when Forestieri beat Costel Pantilimon.

It was a reward for the visitors´ bold start to the game and nine minutes later they made it 2-0, with Deeney finishing off a sweeping move involving Sean Murray and Ikechi Anya.

City manager Manuel Pellegrini sent on defenders Vincent Kompany and Pablo Zabaleta for the second half and with half an hour remaining the hosts pulled a goal back through Aguero.

The Argentine then plundered an equaliser in the 79th minute, slipping the ball onto his left foot and curling home his 24th goal of the campaign following a raid led by Jesus Navas.

Watford were still within sight of a money-spinning replay, but with three minutes remaining Kolarov deceived visiting goalkeeper Jonathan Bond from distance to make it 3-2, before Aguero completed his treble at the death.

Liverpool also avoided a potential banana skin by winning 2-0 at second-tier Bournemouth.

Beneath bright winter sunshine on the English south coast, Liverpool withstood an enterprising start from their Championship hosts before taking the lead in the 26th minute through Victor Moses.

Daniel Sturridge added a second goal with half an hour remaining, running onto Suarez´s dinked pass and tucking the ball past goalkeeper Lee Camp in front of watching England manager Roy Hodgson. (AFP)