Manchester City on cusp of quarter-finals after clinching win in Kiev

Manchester City produced one of their best displays of the season as they took a significant step towards reaching the last eight of the Champions League for the first time with a 3-1 victory at Dyanmo Kiev.

The away team overcame a nervy start to put in a vibrant, all-action pressing display that saw them take a firm grip of this last-16 tie courtesy of first-half strikes from Sergio Aguero and David Silva and a last-minute effort from Yaya Toure.

Vitaliy Buyalskiy pulled one back for a much-improved Kiev after the break but Toure's sensational curling effort was the perfect way to get City's season back on track after a run of three straight defeats.

Manuel Pellegrini came in for much criticism for fielding a team of youngsters in the weekend FA Cup clash at Chelsea, but the Chilean will feel this result justifies his decision to prioritise a competition where his team have flattered to deceive for too long.

City have seen their Premier League challenge falter and their bid for the quadruple go up in smoke since the announcement that Pep Guardiola will replace Pellegrini in the summer, but they look to have rediscovered their fight and drive at just the right time.

The result puts them in control of the tie ahead of the return leg in Manchester on March 15 and is the perfect boost going into Sunday's League Cup final with Liverpool.

City are aiming to reach the last eight for the first time in their history and Pellegrini pretty much sacrificed their shot at winning the FA Cup to prepare for this last-16 tie. On this evidence, with Sergio Aguero fit and firing, they will remain a side to avoid in the next round. But can they stun Europe and go all the way? Stranger things have happened but they will surely have to overcome at least one of the usual suspects with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid all offering a much sterner test than a Kiev team that were playing their first competitive game since December. The Premier League and the League Cup perhaps remain more achievable on paper, but City's ageing squad will be desperate to have a real go at the biggest prize of all and hand Pellegrini a farewell to remember.

Raheem Sterling (Man City). A constant menace on the left. Created the second goal for Silva and showed that he has a real appetite for this competition. In truth, it could have been any number of a City side that looked hungry and fully focused throughout.

DYNAMO KIEV: Shovkovskiy 6, Danilo Silva 6, Dragovic 6, Vida 6, Khacheridi 6, Rybalka 6, Garmash 5, Gonzalez 7, Buyalskiy 7, Yarmolenko 7, Teodorczyk 5. Subs: Miguel Veloso 7, Junior Moraes 7, Makarenko 6.

MANCHESTER CITY: Hart 7, Sagna 7, Kompany 7, Otamendi 8, Clichy 7, Fernando 8, Fernandinho 8, Toure 7, Silva 7, Sterling 8, Aguero 7. Subs: Iheanacho n/a.

4' - DYNAMO KIEV CHANCE! Yarmolenko jinks towards the right byline before drilling in a ferocious cross-shot that Hart is forced to spill onto his own crossbar. It's awkward from the City stopper and he's relieved to see it bobble over.

15' - GOAL! DYNAMO KIEV 0-1 MAN CITY. A left-wing corner is headed down by Toure for Aguero. The Argentine chests it into his own path in a blur before drilling a fierce shot into the net.

22' - MAN CITY CHANCE! Fernando wins it deep in Kiev territory and plays it to the right for Aguero who rampages into the area and lashes just wide of the far post. It could easily be two!

40' - GOAL! DYNAMO KIEV 0-2 MAN CITY. Aguero holds it up on the left of the area and lays it into the path of Sterling. The England winger drives to the byline and fires a low cross to the back post for Silva to arrive and tap home.

42' - MAN CITY CHANCE! Aguero races into the left of the area and pulls the trigger... but he drags it just wide of the far post! It should be three.

58' - GOAL! DYNAMO KIEV 1-2 MAN CITY. Kiev are back in it. Buyalskiy latches onto Otamendi's headed clearance and flashes in a 20-yard drive that deflects off the City defender and past a stranded Hart.

79' - DYNAMO KIEV CHANCE! Buyalskiy arrives with perfect timing on the edge of the box to sweep a low shot towards the far corner that Hart somehow gets a big hand to. Super stop.

82' - MAN CITY CHANCE! It should be three. Sterling mesmerises his man on the left and stands up a cross for Toure who thunders his header from six yards out wide!

90' - GOAL! DYNAMO KIEV 1-3 MAN CITY. The Citizens restore their two-goal cushion. Toure cuts in from the right, exchanges a one-two with Fernandinho and curls a brilliant 25-yarder into the far corner.

David Silva has scored in consecutive Champions League appearances for the first time.

Manchester City have kept just four clean sheets in 35 Champions League games and none in the last nine

Raheem Sterling has had a hand in five goals in his last four Champions League games (three goals, two assists).

Sergio Agüero has scored 16 goals in his last 17 Champions League starts.