Manchester City 2 Swansea City 1
Man City: Jesus (11', 90'+2)
Swansea: Sigurdsson (81')
Man of the Match: Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City)
MANCHESTER // Even as he gets a glimpse of the future, Sergio Aguero may sense history repeating itself. A South American attacker who scored his first Etihad Stadium goal against Swansea City saw another emulate him. A Manchester City forward defined by a dramatic injury-time winner was a witness as another provided the last-gasp decider.
It was not as famous as Aguero’s 94th-minute, title-clinching finish against Queens Park Rangers in 2012 — how could it be? — but Gabriel Jesus’ 92nd-minute strike against Swansea was auspicious indeed. It showed a footballer who boasts style in abundance also has the substance to deliver at key moments. In a tale of two Cities and a game of two halves, the Mancunian variant had lost a lead. They seemed set to lose two points.
Then David Silva bent in a cross from the right. With a wonderful natural leap, Jesus rose to meet it. His header drew a save from Lukasz Fabianski, but Jesus was on hand to score at the second attempt. It completed a double for him, took his side third and added to the sense City have signed a sensation.
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“We are so delighted because most of the big important clubs in Europe wanted him and he decided to come here,” City manager Pep Guardiola said.
The bewitching Brazilian is a jinking runner who nevertheless materialises in the penalty box. His first goal also illustrated his opportunism. His background is as a winger, but he showed a poacher’s predatory instincts by reacting to volley in after Martin Olsson tackled Raheem Sterling.
“He has given us goals, work and movement,” Guardiola said. “He has this instinct inside the area and this joy he has brought us, as a Brazilian player he already has it.”
Jesus became the fifth City player to score on each of their first two Premier League starts. Three of the others — Geovanni, Robinho, Emmanuel Adebayor and Kevin de Bruyne — have not built on that fine start. Jesus promises to be different.
“I’m very happy because I got into the team so quickly,” the Brazilian, 19, said. It has come at the expense of one of City’s most celebrated players. He has displaced Aguero, who was benched for a second successive game, as the starting striker.
“He is going to play a lot of games, with Gabriel and without Gabriel,” said Guardiola, who described Aguero’s attitude as “perfect”. The Argentine’s contribution here was limited to seven minutes as City pursued a winner but, summing up their contrasting fortunes now, Jesus instead delivered it.
Not that it should have been required. Their first-half display was one of dominance, evoking memories of their early-season excellence.
“To concede only one goal was a bonus to us,” Swansea manager Paul Clement said. He complained about the award of a free kick for a challenge by Luciano Narsingh on Aleksandar Kolarov seconds before Jesus’ winner, but referee Mike Dean also denied City two penalties, when Alfie Mawson tugged Jesus and Sterling was booked for diving after Fabianski caught him. The goalkeeper saved superbly to keep Yaya Toure’s free kick out.
Six minutes into the second half, Leroy Sane struck the post with an audacious effort from an unlikely angle. Yet by then, the Swansea revival had begun. The game mirrored the campaign, with Swansea transformed by Clement’s intervention.
Previously a spectator, Willy Caballero was required to make a spectacular save as he touched Gylfi Sigurdsson’s free kick on to the post. He was beaten by the Icelander when he steered a shot through John Stones’ legs and into the City net.
“We have done enough to warrant the point,” Clement said, but Jesus ensured Swansea left pointless.
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