Experimental Man City survive Bournemouth scare to win Maresca's first game
Report and free match highlights as Man City came from behind to beat Bournemouth in Enzo Maresca's first Premier League game in charge; Marc Guehi and Josko Gvardiol both scored late to complete a remarkable turnaround after Marcus Tavernier's first-half opener
Manchester City survived a serious scare in Enzo Maresca's first Premier League game in charge, forced to come from behind to earn a dramatic, late 2-1 victory over Bournemouth.
The Italian endured a nightmarish first outing as boss after being humbled by Arsenal in the Community Shield, but was reprieved when it really mattered, guiding his side to an important, if uncomfortable, first league victory.
City had plenty of chances to make their afternoon more relaxed than it turned out but were wasteful and sloppy, with individuals playing out of position in an unbalanced system. None of Erling Haaland's five efforts could make the breakthrough, needing two defenders to rescue a result that looked beyond them for the majority.
Marcus Tavernier scored a brilliant first-half opener for Bournemouth, who played with the same guile and gusto they displayed under Andoni Iraola. Marco Rose nearly masterminded the perfect away day on his Premier League debut. But City mounted a late revival.
Marc Guehi and Josko Gvardiol scored within seven minutes of each other to complete a remarkable turnaround, with VAR coming to the aid of the latter after the on-field officials initially ruled the strike offside.
The hosts were far from convincing, but start with an all-important three points - the latest they have trailed a Premier League home game that they went on to win since the final day of their title-winning 2011-12 campaign. An omen, perhaps?
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