Europa League review:Manchester City and Manchester United both moved a step closer to the last 16 of the Europa League with away wins tonight but Stoke are in trouble after losing 1-0 at home to Valencia.
Sergio Aguero came off the bench to hand Citya 2-1 advantage in their tie against Porto.
The Argentinian struck from close range with six minutes remaining as City came from behind to condemn the Portuguese champions to a rare home defeat at the Estadio do Dragao.
The hosts took a 27th-minute lead in the first leg of the round of 32 clash through Silvestre Varela but an Alvaro Pereira own goal gifted City an equaliser.
"I think that we played very well, also in the first half we had three or four chances to score and we were really unlucky," said Mancini afterwards. "In the second half we played very well. We had seven or eight chances to score in this game and we didn't give many chances to Porto."
Stokewill have to win in the Mestalla next week if their European adventure is to continue after Valenciawon at the Britannia Stadium.
Mehmet Topal netted the only goal of the game in the 36th minute with a stunning 30-yard strike that gave Asmir Begovic no chance.
Sofiane Feghouli also hit the post in the second half while Stoke, who have lost their last four Premier League games, were limited to half-chances.
Earlier, second half goals against Ajaxfrom Ashley Young and Javier Hernandez allowed Unitedtake a giant stride towards the last 16. The homeside were dominant in the first half, but he visitors roused themselves after the break and are now almost certain to progress.
Young broke the deadlock just before the hour and Hernandez finished off a flowing move to put United in control ahead of next Thursday's second leg at Old Trafford.
“We know it is a leg of two games," Hernandez told Channel 5 afterwards. "We wanted a great result and thankfully we got the two goals. We know Ajax is a difficult team, they have history in the European cups. We know there is 90 minutes more. We can’t say we are through yet.”
Alex Ferguson was disappointed with his side’s performance, but pleased with the result.
“I’m delighted with the scoreline,” he said. “It was a very ordinary performance from us though. We didn’t hit any great heights. We improved in the second half and probably deserved to win it in the end. I know Ajax can make it difficult with the system they play, but we didn’t
get any tempo into our game. It was not a brilliant performance, but good enough.”
Despite that, Ferguson expects to progress to the next round, where they will face either Lokomotiv Moscow or Athletic Bilbao.
“It gives us a good opportunity, but we won’t take it for granted,” he said. “But at home at Old Trafford we have a good opportunity to get through.”
Ferguson, however, confirmed winger Antonio Valencia, who hobbled off after being introduced as a second-half substitute will be out for four weeks with a hamstring injury.
