Bournemouth stunned Manchester City with a remarkable performance, securing a historic victory that saw them triumph over the Premier League champions for the first time. Goals from Antoine Semenyo and Evanlison paved the way for this memorable win, which not only delighted the Bournemouth fans but also disrupted City’s impressive unbeaten streak in the league, which had lasted an astounding 32 games since December 6, 2023.
This defeat marked a significant setback for Pep Guardiola’s side, who were already reeling from a disappointing exit in the midweek Carabao Cup at the hands of Tottenham. The pressure was mounting on City, and the Cherries capitalized on this moment of vulnerability. Coming into this match on a wave of optimism after acquiring four points from their previous two encounters with Aston Villa and Arsenal, Bournemouth were determined to make a statement.
From the onset, the match’s tempo was set by Bournemouth, who played with the kind of intensity and urgency that caught Manchester City off guard. Just two minutes into the match, City’s goalkeeper Ederson was called into action, performing a crucial double save as he denied both Semenyo and Justin Kluivert, illustrating Bournemouth’s early attacking intent. The home side’s relentless pressure paid off in the ninth minute when Milos Kerkez expertly cut the ball back from the byline; Semenyo positioned himself perfectly to slot home the opening goal, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
City struggled to find any rhythm in the first half, failing to hit the target with a single attempt, which was a testament to Bournemouth’s disciplined and organized defense. The Cherries maintained their momentum as they entered the second half, bursting out of the blocks with confidence. In just the first minute of the half, Evanlison nearly doubled the lead, but Ederson was quick off his line, thwarting the Brazilian’s effort.
However, Evanlison would not be denied for long. He found the back of the net with his next chance, expertly sliding to connect with Kerkez’s low cross, ensuring it nestled into the bottom corner of the net. The Bournemouth players celebrated wildly, sensing a significant achievement was within their grasp. Just moments later, they had a golden opportunity to extend their lead even further when Adam Smith found himself with a clear sight of goal, only to inexplicably blaze his shot over the bar after a Marcus Tavernier effort rebounded off the post.
As the match progressed, Manchester City began to show signs of life. Finally managing to register an attempt on target in the 80th minute, Erling Haaland seemed to lack the necessary power in his volley to challenge goalkeeper Mark Travers. Two minutes later, Josko Gvardiol gave City fans a glimmer of hope with a headed goal, but despite their late efforts, the champions couldn’t find the equaliser they desperately sought.
In an exciting finish, Haaland believed he had salvaged a point in stoppage time, only for his close-range shot to be dramatically saved on the line, with his subsequent rebound striking the post. The final whistle confirmed Bournemouth’s remarkable victory, and the defeat saw City slip to second in the league standings, as Liverpool mounted a thrilling comeback to overcome Brighton. Meanwhile, this victory propelled Bournemouth up to eighth place, marking a significant achievement for the club and their supporters.
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