Manchester City began the new Premier League era under Enzo Maresca with a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium, overturning a first half deficit with two late goals to secure all three points.
The victory looked unlikely for long periods as Bournemouth defended with discipline after Marcus Tavernier gave the visitors a surprise lead. City dominated possession and created several opportunities, but they struggled to find the decisive finish until Marc Guehi and Josko Gvardiol turned the game around in the closing stages.
The result gave Maresca a winning start to his Premier League reign, although the performance also exposed areas that the new Manchester City manager will need to address.
City started with plenty of possession and immediately attempted to establish control in midfield. Rayan Cherki provided creativity in the attacking areas, while Erling Haaland looked to exploit spaces between Bournemouth’s defenders.
The home side came close to opening the scoring in the 13th minute when O’Reilly made a dangerous run down the left before delivering a cross towards Haaland. The Norwegian striker was presented with an opportunity but could not convert it.
Bournemouth gradually grew into the contest and began finding spaces behind the City defence. Rayan forced Gianluigi Donnarumma into a save in the 15th minute after cutting inside from the right, providing an early warning to the hosts.
That warning became reality in the 26th minute.
Bournemouth broke the deadlock through Marcus Tavernier after a quick attacking move exposed uncertainty in the City defence. The goal stunned the Etihad crowd and gave the visitors belief that they could produce one of the biggest surprises of the opening Premier League weekend.
City responded by increasing the pressure, but Bournemouth’s defensive organisation continued to frustrate the home side. The Cherries were particularly effective at closing down dangerous areas around the penalty box and limiting Haaland’s involvement.
The visitors also remained dangerous on the counterattack, forcing City to remain cautious despite their territorial dominance.
After the interval, Maresca’s side increased the intensity and pushed more players forward. The pressure almost produced an equaliser early in the second half when Marc Guehi found space from a corner, but his header went wide.
The miss proved costly temporarily, but Guehi would eventually make amends.
City continued to search for a way through, with Haaland going close again after receiving a cross into the area. However, his effort lacked the required accuracy and Bournemouth goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic was able to make the save.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 85th minute.
Guehi rose inside the Bournemouth penalty area from a corner and headed the ball into the net, giving City the equaliser they had been chasing for most of the second half. The goal completely changed the atmosphere inside the Etihad and gave the hosts renewed belief that they could still win the match.
Bournemouth, who had defended so effectively for almost the entire contest, suddenly found themselves under enormous pressure.
City pushed forward in search of a winner, and their persistence was rewarded deep into stoppage time.
In the 90th minute, Gvardiol appeared to have scored the decisive goal, but the assistant referee initially raised the flag for offside. The stadium waited anxiously as VAR reviewed the incident.
The technology eventually confirmed that Gvardiol had been played onside, allowing the goal to stand.
The Croatian defender had been released by a perfectly weighted pass from Rayan Cherki, and Gvardiol showed impressive composure to finish into the bottom corner in the 90th minute plus one.
The late winner completed a remarkable turnaround and sparked wild celebrations among the City players and supporters.
Bournemouth were left devastated after coming within minutes of securing a famous result at the Etihad. Their defensive performance had largely restricted Manchester City, but they could not withstand the sustained pressure during the final stages.
City’s statistics illustrated their dominance. The hosts finished with 66 percent possession, 14 shots and six attempts on target, while Bournemouth recorded five shots and four on target. City also created 13 chances and earned eight corners compared with Bournemouth’s three.
For Maresca, the result provides an important early boost after Manchester City’s disappointing 3-0 Community Shield defeat to Arsenal. The manager will be pleased with the team’s character and persistence, but the defensive problems and lack of cutting edge before the final stages will remain concerns.
Haaland, meanwhile, endured a relatively quiet afternoon by his usual standards, while Gvardiol emerged as the unlikely match winner.
The biggest positives were City’s refusal to give up, Guehi’s equalising contribution and Cherki’s influence in the decisive moments. The victory also demonstrated that the new Manchester City side possesses the resilience required to win difficult matches.
Bournemouth deserve credit for their performance, particularly after taking the lead and frustrating City for most of the afternoon. But football matches are often decided in the final moments, and City produced the quality they needed when it mattered most.
Ultimately, goals from Guehi in the 85th minute and Gvardiol in stoppage time transformed what appeared to be a disappointing opening day for Manchester City into a memorable 2-1 victory.
For Maresca, it is a winning beginning. For Bournemouth, it is a painful reminder of how quickly a match can change in the Premier League.
