SERGIO AGUERO has probably never had a night like this after missing two penalties but still netting a hat-trick.
wIt meant Manchester City strolled to a victory that ensures they will be in the Champions League group stages for a sixth successive season.
Pep Guardiola’s men hit the bar three times and wasted several other chances in a win that renders next week’s second leg at the Etihad Stadium virtually meaningless.
In truth, City could have had double figures against a team who simply couldn’t cope with the pace and precision of their play.
City would have been home and hosed by half-time last night but for Aguero’s bout of penalty madness.
The Argentina striker had no problem scoring from the spot after four minutes against Sunderland on Saturday but inexplicably lost his nerve in the National Stadium.
His first miss came after eight minutes after Raheem Sterling, who had won Saturday’s penalty, had been felled by Muniru Sulley.
Aguero kept his shot low but keeper Florin Nita dived to his right to keep the ball out.
There was some relief for Aguero when David Silva fired City in front after 13 minutes and again the rejuvenated Sterling set it up.
He latched on to a terrible pass by Alin Tosca, charged into the penalty area and squared the ball to Silva, who finished from 12 yards.
Aguero tried to make amends for his earlier miss but fired a shot over.
His bizarre first half continued when he failed again from the spot after 21 minutes when Aleksandar Kolarov was brought down by Gabriel Enache.
This time Aguero decided to hit the penalty high but it was too much, clipping the top of the bar on its way over.
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He threw his hands up in despair and incredibly he has now missed four of his last five penalties for City in Europe.
City almost paid for Aguero’s wastefulness when a quick break by Steaua saw Nicolae Stanciu closing in on goal but Willy Caballero, again preferred to Joe Hart, came off his line to block.
Aguero looked a relieved man when he gave City a valuable two-goal cushion four minutes before half-time and again Sterling was the creator.
When Nolito crossed from the left, Sterling’s superb touch set up Aguero, who scored with an immaculate low shot from the edge of the area into the far corner of Nita’s net.
City didn’t take long to virtually make certain of their passage to the group stages with a third goal four minutes into the second half that again showed up Steaua’s wretched defending.
Nolito played the ball out to Kevin De Bruyne and then raced unchallenged into the area to take the return ball, dribbling round Nita and tapping it into the net for his first City goal.
Steaua protested he was offside but he was level when De Bruyne played his pass. City’s fourth was the best of the night, Aguero playing two one-twos with Nolito before firing the ball home.
The Argentinian added the fifth after being put in by Fernandinho to give the scoreline a true reflection of their superiority.
STEAUA (4-2-3-1): Nita; Enache, Tamas, Tosca, Momcilovic; Achim (Bourceanu 46), Muniru (O Popescu 67); Adi Popa, Stanciu, Hamroun; Golubovic (Tudorie 46).
Subs: Cojocaru, Mitrea, Aganovic, D Popescu.
MAN CITY (4-1-4-1): Caballero; Zabaleta (Sagna 70), Stones, Otamendi, Kolarov (Clichy 75); Fernandinho; Sterling, De Bruyne (Fernando 80), Silva, Nolito; Aguero.
Subs: Hart, Delph, Navas, Iheanacho.
Referee: Daniele Orsato (Italy)
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