City to win over Seag ulls
City, as expected, dominated possession and hemmed Brighton into their own half.
Yet it took until the 17th minute for the visitors’ first strike on goal, when Kevin De Bruyne’s free-kick was hit straight at Ryan.
City had the ball in Brighton’s net after 27 minutes, but it was disallowed after replays showed the ball went in off Jesus’s right hand.
Jesus should have scored with a header when Aguero clipped the ball over from the right, only for Ryan to make a fine save as he was diving the wrong way. Bruno did enough to prevent Jesus poking in the rebound.
Brighton made rare forays into City’s half and had one good chance as the interval approached but Jamie Murphy struggled to control when through on goal.
Jesus had the ball in Albion’s net six minutes into the second half, but again there was an infringement and the strike was ruled out for offside.
Next, Aguero tried to bulldoze his way through three Brighton defenders and Shane Duffy barely kicked an intended back-pass but the Argentinian was off target.
Brighton sensed an opportunity. Murphy led a counter-attack and, from a corner, Duffy’s shot deflected wide.
Ederson flapped at another corner and Propper blasted a 25-yard effort wide. That was as good as it got for Chris Hughton’s side.
City appealed for a penalty when a De Bruyne shot struck the hand of Dunk, but referee Michael Oliver was unmoved and the visitors struck soon after. The Belgian found David Silva, who fed Aguero. And the striker did the rest, finishing across goal.
City, who sent on Leroy Sane, Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva as second-half substitutes, continued to apply pressure and Dunk headed into his own net as the game wore on to ensure a winning start for Guardiola.