Stoke City's 10-game unbeaten run has come to an abrupt end courtesy of Manchester City's 3-0 win at the Etihad Stadium this afternoon.
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City almost took the lead inside two minutes as Sergio Aguero danced his way into the box and past Robert Huth, but Asmir Begovic was equal to his effort.
Aguero came close again seven minutes later, taking down Gareth Barry's lofted pass on his chest only to fire his shot way over the bar.
David Silva was the next to come close for the champions, heading an effort wide before Aguero was once again denied by Begovic.
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The Argentinian missed yet another chance to open the scoring just past the half-hour mark, but his header when unmarked in the box came back off the post.
City did finally take the lead five minutes before the break as Pablo Zabaleta reacted quickest to James Milner's parried effort to net the rebound.
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Edin Dzeko doubled his side's lead 10 minutes after the restart after Yaya Toure caught the Stoke defence napping with a pass to Aguero, whose shot was saved before Dzeko tapped in from close range.
Stoke should have pulled a goal back just after the hour mark when Glenn Whelan's corner fell to Jonathan Walters inside the six-yard box, but the striker somehow lifted his effort over the bar.
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City punished the Potters for this miss 10 minutes later when Steven Nzonzi was adjudged to have brought down Silva inside the box. Aguero stepped up and powered his spot kick past Begovic.
Whelan almost bagged a sensational consolation goal in the 85th minute as he let fly from 30 yards, but his effort came back off the post.
Barney Corkhill
