Manchester City staged a dramatic late comeback to defeat Bournemouth 2-1 and give new manager Enzo Maresca a winning start in his first Premier League match in charge.
Bournemouth took the lead in the first half when Marcus Tavernier found space inside the area before finishing Evanilson’s low cross to put the visitors ahead.
City struggled to find their rhythm for much of the game, with Erling Haaland missing several opportunities to level the score. The Norwegian, who has been prolific in August, failed to convert any of his five chances.
However, City finally found a breakthrough with six minutes remaining when Marc Guehi rose to head home Rayan Cherki’s corner and make it 1-1.
The hosts then completed the turnaround in stoppage time. Josko Gvardiol guided a shot into the bottom corner following another Cherki delivery. The goal was initially ruled out for offside but was awarded after a VAR review.
The victory marked an important start for Maresca, who took charge following Pep Guardiola’s departure after a decade at Manchester City.
City showed improvement after their 3-0 defeat to Arsenal in last weekend’s Community Shield, although they were made to work hard for all three points.
The result was particularly painful for Bournemouth, who saw their club-record 18-game unbeaten run come to an end.
Bournemouth had enjoyed the best season in their history last campaign, finishing sixth and securing European football for the first time. New manager Marco Rose had hoped to continue that momentum after replacing Andoni Iraola.
For City, the late comeback provides an early boost as Maresca begins his tenure and looks to maintain the club’s status among the Premier League’s leading sides.
