Manchester City 2-1 Bournemouth: Late comeback win for City on Maresca’s debut

Josko Gvardiol has put Manchester City 2-1 up with just a few seconds left.

He was flagged offside when it went in, but replays show his movement towards the ball was enough to keep him on as James Hill’s left leg just kept him onside.

Lovely assist from Rayan Cherki to set up Gvardiol. 2-1 to City!

Maresca goes bonkers. City’s players and fans go bonkers.

What a dramatic late turnaround.

A corner from the right is whipped in and somehow Marc Guehi is unmarked.

He heads home this time.

Huge roars from the home fans. Finally, they are level.

1-1. Just over five minutes to go.

Jack Grealish is on for Phil Foden, with the latter not happy to be subbed off.

Grealish is cheered onto the pitch by the City fans “Super Jackie Grealish!” is the chant.

Can he conjure up a bit of magic late on to help City avoid defeat?

Man City get the ball to the byline and it’s clipped back to Haaland.

He is turning away from goal but scuffs his shot on target.

It bounces and Petrovic saves, gathering the ball at the second attempt.

How many times have we seen Haaland finish that kind of chance over the years?

He looks to the sky and seems very frustrated.

Man City are starting to crank through the gears now and are popping the ball around quickly in the box.

The ball eventually falls to Haaland who has a touch to steady himself but Bournemouth’s defenders are right on top of him.

Haaland scoops the ball over the bar and he just couldn’t get a clean effort away.

Better from City. They need more of that in this last 17 minutes plus stoppage time.

City are cranking through the gears as we approach the final 20 minutes.

Rayan Cherki is on and popping up all over the place.

Semenyo’s low shot is saved by Petrovic, then Phil Foden’s shot deflects just wide but the corner comes to nothing.

Bournemouth are happy to sit deep and trying to spring counters.

City really need a goal soon if they’re going to turn this around and get a late win.

We’ve seen them do that so many times over the years but that was with Pep Guardiola in charge...

It has been very flat from City so far today.

Marc Guehi will not want to see this again. Ever.

A corner is whipped in by Anderson and Petrovic comes off his line but slips.

That leaves Marc Guehi completely unmarked a few yards out and an empty net in front of him.

But somehow he heads the ball wide under no pressure whatsoever.

That is an absolutely unbelievable miss from Guehi. He is very angry with himself.

City should be level.

In his first Premier League game in charge of Manchester City it has been a poor first half for Enzo Maresca.

His side had a couple of big chances early but Bournemouth are ahead thanks to a fine team goal from Marcus Tavernier as they made the most of some slack defending from City.

City are struggling to have any control of the game and Erling Haaland has touched the ball five times in Bournemouth’s box, and one of those touches was somehow not converting a glorious chance from six yards out.

Maresca has the likes of Marmoush, Cherki and Grealish on the bench and surely we will see all three soon as they try to find a way back into this game.

Well, Bournemouth are full of confidence and Manchester City are all over the place at the back.

First Rayan curls an effort wide of the far post, then Bournemouth should be 2-0 up.

Justin Kluivert is somehow totally unmarked at the back post as Rico Lewis is caught out of position.

He curls a low shot towards goal and Donnarumma makes the save and City scramble clear.

But that was so easy for Bournemouth to get a couple of great looks on goal.

It is very quiet at the Etihad Stadium. City’s fans aren’t impressed with this first half under Maresca.

Marcus Tavernier has Bournemouth ahead at Manchester City and it was coming.

The ball is played forward by Adam Smith down the right and City’s defenders get in the way of one another.

Rayan then tees up Evanilson and his cross to the back post is finished by Tavernier to make it 1-0.

Enzo Maresca goes straight to the TV screens to see what went wrong. Basically, Enzo, it was terrible defending and City were caught up by one long ball up the pitch.

Marco Rose will be happy his new team have weathered the early storm from Man City.

Bournemouth have had a couple of chances on the break and are forcing City into making sloppy errors on the ball.

The Cherries are picking their moments to press high and are hanging in this game.

Midway through the first half, it’s still 0-0.

Nico O’Reilly charges down the left wing and produces a brilliant cross right on the head of Erling Haaland who is six yards out and unmarked.

The Etihad Stadium is ready to erupt but Haaland chests the ball rather than throwing his head at it.

Yes, the ball did drop at an awkward height for Haaland but he was really annoyed with himself there. That was a perfect chance for him to head home an opener.

What a break from Man City as Erling Haaland surges away on the halfway line.

He finds Phil Foden who backheels a lovely pass to Rico Lewis who is in on goal.

But Petrovic is off his line in goal for Bournemouth and blocks Lewis’ little dink.

Majestic move from City and perhaps a sign of things to come.

We often associate Enzo Maresca’s playing style with possession, but he also loves to unleash his teams on the counter attack too.

Marco Rose has named his first Bournemouth lineup in the Premier League and it is fairly similar to what we saw last season.

USMNT star Tyler Adams is on the bench, while Rayan, Evanilson and Tavernier will cause plenty of problems up top and will be a threat on the counter.

Bournemouth starting lineup confirmed

Petrovic; Smith, Hill, Silva, Truffert; Cook, Scott; Rayan, Kluivert, Tavernier; Evanilson

Here is City’s lineup with a few surprises against Bournemouth.

Rico Lewis starts in midfield, while Khusnaov is at right back again.

Marmoush, who has been linked with a move to Spurs, is on the bench.

Manchester City starting lineup

Donnarumma, Khusanov, Dias, Guehi, Gvardiol, Lewis, Anderson, O’Reilly, Semenyo, Foden, Haaland

Erling Haaland’s magnificent golden blond mane was one of the sights of the World Cup this summer.

But it will not adorn our screens today, and for the foreseeable future.

Why?

Haaland has released a video on social media showing that he’s shaved all of his hair off.

This is a new look for Haaland who has had long hair for a very long time. But it is no more.

Bournemouth finished sixth last season and have largely kept that squad together, even though Andoni Iraola left and is now in charge at Liverpool.

Marco Rose has replaced him and the German coach loves to play a similar style of high-pressing football, so Bournemouth should look very similar to the last few years.

But can their relatively small squad handle the Thursday-Sunday Europa League grind coming their way?

That is the biggest question as they aim to make a splash in Europe while also pushing for a top eight finish in the Premier League once again.

Rose will encourage Bournemouth to press high and they’re so good at it. But the Cherries may also have to adapt their playing style slightly to deal with the extra physical load they have coming up this season.

If it’s the TV channel and stream link you’re after for Manchester City vs Bournemouth, you’ve come to the right place.

All of that information is below, as City kick off their new Premier League season against a dangerous Bournemouth side.

How to watch Manchester City vs Bournemouth live, stream link and start time

Kick off time: 9am ET Sunday (August 23)
Venue: Etihad Stadium — Manchester
TV Channel: USA
Stream link: Watch on USA

Enzo Maresca’s side lost 3-0 in the Community Shield against Arsenal last weekend as alarm bells are ringing.

But they will be just fine and still play beautiful, possession-based football.

Last Sunday’s defeat to Arsenal was the first preseason outing for many of their stars who had only just returned from the World Cup, and City have so much quality that they will be right up there at the end of the season.

Yes, they’ve lost some big players in Rodri, Bernardo Silva and John Stones but they are set to further add to their squad in the coming days and have new signing Elliot Anderson who will dominate midfield.

Erling Haaland is around too, as his goals will clearly help Maresca settle in, and even though this a brave new world after Guardiola, City will still be among the challengers for all four trophies.