Page 1 Arrow Page 1 Arrow aya bootroom camera check chevron-down-thinchevron-down fail hive-learning info linledin notice play thefa user verified

Sergio Aguero goes out on his own as fourth-highest Emirates FA Cup goalscorer

Thursday 05 Mar 2020
Sergio Aguero went clear of Jermain Defoe as the FA Cup's fourth-highest goalscorer when he netted against Sheffield Wednesday

Manchester City's Sergio Aguero moved past Jermain Defoe as the outright fourth-highest-goalscorer in Emirates FA Cup history when he scored the winner against Sheffield Wednesday. 

Reigning champions City beat the Owls 1-0 at Hillsborough on Wednesday night thanks to Aguero's second-half strike to leave just three players ahead of the Argentine in the overall scoring charts. 

That was the 31-year-old's second goal in the competition this season having also scored against Port Vale in the third round and means he now has 20 goals in 22 FA Cup appearances, moving one ahead of former England striker Defoe. 

That just leaves Wayne Rooney (22), Frank Lampard (27) and Ian Rush with a record haul of 35 ahead of him -and with Rooney's Derby County out of the competition, Aguero could close the gap in the latter stages. 

Sergio Aguero
  • Competition debut: 8 January 2012 v Manchester United
  • Appearances: 22
  • Goals: 20
  • Titles won: 1 (2018-19)

Despite all his other records and achievements, it wasn't until last year that Aguero finally managed to get his hands on the FA Cup trophy having first made his debut back in 2012. 

And it was against United that Aguero made his first appearance in the competition, starting and scoring late on as City tried to claw their way back into a 3-2 third round defeat - Rooney himself got two that day. 

Aguero celebrates after scoring on his FA Cup debut

The following season saw him play an integral part in City's run to the Final, scoring in the 2-1 semi-final win over Chelsea but could not repeat the feat in the Final as Ben Watson's winner earned Wigan Athletic the trophy. 

The 2016-17 season was particularly fruitful as Aguero scored five times during City's run to the semis but were beaten in extra-time by eventual winners Arsenal before another defeat at the hands of Wigan in the 2017-18 fifth round. 

But when the time finally came for the Citizens to claim their sixth title as part of a historic domestic treble last season, Aguero's role was interrupted by injury and then a snub for the Final by manager Pep Guardiola. 

Aguero netted in the only two games he featured in, coming off the bench in a comfortable 5-0 home win over Burnley before saving the day in the final 25 minutes away at Swansea.

Aguero (centre) celebrates with team-mates after last year's final

With Guardiola's side 2-0 down, Aguero was summoned from the dugout and teed up Bernardo Silva before forcing an own-goal by Swans keeper Kristoffer Nordfeldt from the penalty spot and then heading in the winner with two minutes left on the clock. 

A thigh problem ruled the Argentine out of the semi-final against Brighton & Hove Albion but a fully-fit Aguero was kept on the bench for the entirety of the 6-0 victory over Watford in the Final. 

His manager's luxurious ability to rotate City's squad may sometimes threaten Aguero's involvement but there is no escaping the fact that he is one of the best goalscorers the Emirates FA Cup has ever seen.  

By Tom Dean