Aguero dream debut as Manchester City thrash Swansea

Posted on August 16, 2011 by SoccerPunter

Aguero, a 38 million pound signing from Atletico Madrid, made it 2-0 from close range in the 68th minute after Edin Dzeko had broken the deadlock 11 minutes earlier.

Man of the match David Silva added the third before Aguero capped a delightful performance with a spectacular 30-yard finish in stoppage time.

Swansea are back in England’s top-tier for the first time since 1983. And a visit to City represented a daunting start for Brendan Rodgers’ newly-promoted side even though the hosts were without Carlos Tevez, who was not considered fit enough to start.

Considerable investment has once again been ploughed into Mancini’s squad, with 50 million pounds spent and counting.

Gael Clichy, the left-back from Arsenal, was handed an immediate debut while Stefan Savic, the new arrival from Partizan Belgrade, had to make do with a place on the bench.

In contrast, Swansea have conducted a moderate recruitment drive compared to City with striker Danny Graham, the 3.5 million pound signing from Watford, the most expensive arrival.

Graham was included in the starting line up along with Michel Vorm, the keeper signed from Utrecht, and Steven Caulker, who has joined on loan from Tottenham.

And both had their work cut out as frustrated City did everything but score during a goalless first half.

The visitors had dominated the opening exchanges when Micah Richards narrowly failed to get on the end of Silva’s 16th minute cross.

It was the first of many first-half opportunities that fell City’s way yet a combination of fine goalkeeping by Vorm and wasteful finishing meant Swansea were still on level terms at half time.

Silva is proof that there is still plenty of exceptional Spanish talent left in the English Premier League despite Cesc Fabregas’ departure to Barcelona.

City’s World Cup winner let fly with a vicious 23rd minute effort which was heading for the top corner before Vorm made a spectacular one handed stop.

Mancini cut a frustrated figure on the sidelines when appeals for a penalty for handball against Ashley Williams following Dzeko’s shot were waved away by referee Mike Dean.

Only the woodwork prevented Swansea from falling behind after Silva’s 12-yard effort in the 29th minute before Vorm once again rescued his side with another excellent save to deny Yaya Toure seven minutes before half-time.

And the Welsh team’s bar was rattled again on the stroke of half-time by Gareth Barry in what had become a one-sided contest.

But City made their dominance count after half-time with four goals in the space of 33 minutes.

Dzeko was in the right place at the right time to break the deadlock from close range after Adam Johnson’s curling 57th minute effort was parried into the striker’s path by Vorm.

Aguero received a rousing reception when he replaced Nigel De Jong in the 59th minute and nine minutes later the striker was celebrating his first goal in a City shirt after connecting with Richards’ low cross.

Silva made it 3-0 in the 71st minute after Aguero turned provider before the debutant capped a fine display with a stunning 30-yard finish.