MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 03: Sergio Aguero of Manchester City celebrates scoring his fourth and team's fifth goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and Newcastle United at Etihad Stadium on October 3, 2015 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images) (2015 Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, England (AP) – Sergio Agüero scored five goals in a 20-minute spell as Manchester City used a second-half onslaught to beat Newcastle 6-1 Saturday and provisionally reclaim top spot in the Premier League.
Having netted just once from open play this season, Agüero showed why he's considered the top striker in the league, scoring with all five of his efforts on target.
Aleksandar Mitrovic had put the visitors ahead in the 18th minute but Agüero leveled in the 42nd with a thumping header and it was all City after the break.
Agüero brought up a hat trick with two goals in a little more than a minute, scoring with a deflected shot in the 49th and then beating goalkeeper Tim Krul with a delicate chip shortly afterward as Newcastle crumbled.
Kevin de Bruyne netted City's fourth just three minutes later with a volley on the turn after a cross from Jesus Navas on the right.
After a five-minute reprieve, Agüero finished off the rout with another two quick goals. First he took a touch to wrong-foot Chancel Mbemba and sent a low curling shot beyond Krul's reach, then he turned in a cross from De Bruyne from close range. That made him the fifth player to score five goals in a Premier League game, but manager Manuel Pellegrini denied him a chance to become the first to score six when he took the Argentina forward off shortly afterward.
"The goal just before halftime I think kind of woke them up, and then it was a whirlwind second half," Newcastle manager Steve McClaren said. "This is the best team in the Premier League."
City has 18 points from eight games, two ahead of Manchester United ahead of its game against Arsenal on Sunday.
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