In a stunning turn of events, Bournemouth secured a historic 2-1 victory over Manchester City, marking their first-ever league win against the reigning champions in the Premier League. This match was a significant milestone for Bournemouth, who had never previously defeated Manchester City in any competition.
Match Summary
First Half
Bournemouth started the match with high intensity, immediately putting pressure on Manchester City. Within the first two minutes, City's goalkeeper was forced to make a double save, indicating a challenging afternoon ahead for the visitors. Antoine Semenyo capitalized on Bournemouth's strong start by scoring in the ninth minute, giving the Cherries an early lead. Semenyo's goal was a result of a well-executed play, where he turned and slotted the ball into the far post following a high turnover.
Second Half
The second half saw Bournemouth doubling their lead in the 64th minute. Evanilson scored after connecting with a cross from Milos Kerkez, who was instrumental in both goals for Bournemouth. Despite Manchester City's efforts to mount a comeback, they struggled with injuries to key players, which hampered their performance. Kevin De Bruyne was only fit enough for the bench, highlighting the depth issues City faced.
Late Drama
Manchester City managed to pull one back in the 82nd minute through Josko Gvardiol, who scored with a brilliant header from a cross by Ilkay Gundogan. However, Bournemouth's defence held firm and goalkeeper Mark Travers made a crucial save in added time to deny Erling Haaland's header, securing the victory for the Cherries.
Tactical Analysis
Pep Guardiola admitted that his team could not handle Bournemouth's intensity, which was a significant factor in their defeat. Despite having a higher expected goals (xG) total of 1.8 compared to Bournemouth's 1.74, City could not convert their chances into goals. Bournemouth's Semenyo and Kerkez were standout performers, with Semenyo being central to every attack and Kerkez providing both assists.
Implications
This defeat saw Manchester City drop to second place in the Premier League standings, trailing Liverpool by two points. Bournemouth, on the other hand, moved up to eighth place, continuing their unbeaten streak in the league. The victory also marked Bournemouth's third successive home win in the Premier League, a feat they have achieved only a few times in their history.
In conclusion, Bournemouth's victory over Manchester City was a testament to their resilience and tactical execution, ending one of the longest unbeaten runs in Premier League history and marking a new chapter in their rivalry with the champions.