Manchester City inflicted a first league defeat in 11 games on Stoke as the Premier League champions kept their title challenge alive with a 3-0 win at Eastlands on Tuesday.
Begovic was also required to leap into action to deny Aguero halfway through the opening period after the home forward collected Barry's pass and turned his marker Ryan Shawcross. Aguero took a step into the Stoke area and unleashed a low shot which the visiting goalkeeper did well to keep out with a sharp, low dive to his right.
As City kept pressing, Andy Wilkinson made a telling tackle to deny Aguero six yards out but, after Gareth Barry sent over a cross from the resulting breakdown in play, Aguero met the ball with a near post header that struck the post and flew behind.
Aguero was at the heart of so much of City's enterprising play and the Argentina forward almost handed his side the lead in the opening minute when he gathered James Milner's pass at full speed and skipped his way past a challenge before his low shot was kept out by goalkeeper Asmir Begovic.
As has been the case for so much of the season, City dominated the first half completely, in terms of possession, but were frustrated by the lack of an end product until taking the lead three minutes before the interval.
Goals from Pablo Zabaleta, Edin Dzeko and a Sergio Aguero penalty saw Roberto Mancini's team make the perfect start to 2013 as they remain within seven points of league leaders Manchester United, who won 4-0 at Wigan.
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