Kevin De Bruyne’s final Manchester City home game ended in a 3-1 win over Bournemouth after Omar Marmoush’s late entry for goal of the season put City on their way to a critical three points in the fight for Champions League places.
All the focus had been on De Bruyne as the 33-year-old made his 142nd and final appearance at the Etihad Stadium but it was Marmoush who stole the spotlight in the 14th minute with a stunning shot which swerved and dipped before going in off the post.
After De Bruyne somehow hit the crossbar in front of an open goal and Evanilson hit the post at the other end, Bernardo Silva doubled City’s lead before half-time. Nico Gonzalez got a third in the 89th minute before Daniel Jebbison’s consolation.
A mad few minutes in the second half saw both sides reduced to 10. First Mateo Kovacic went for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity when he pulled back Evanilson in the 67th minute – forcing Pep Guardiola to end De Bruyne’s final home appearance early.
Six minutes later, Lewis Cook followed for an ugly challenge on his replacement Gonzalez.
Bouncing back from Saturday’s FA Cup final defeat to Crystal Palace, City moved up to third in the table and a point at Fulham on Sunday should be enough for a top-five finish, but Bournemouth saw their hopes of clinching a European place come to an end.
Marmoush’s strike was a thing of beauty. The Egyptian was allowed too much space in the middle of the pitch and took full advantage with a 25-yarder that flew into the top corner beyond the despairing reach of Kepa Arrizabalaga.
The goalkeeper would have had no chance again had De Bruyne got his angles right in the 25th minute. Marmoush squared it from the left but the Belgian, signing off at the Etihad after 10 trophy-laden seasons, somehow turned it onto the underside of the bar with the goal gaping.
City then had a let-off of their own as Evanilson stretched to meet Marcus Tavernier’s first-time cross but saw his bouncing shot come back off the post.
Instead, City doubled their lead five minutes later. Ilkay Gundogan managed to spin his way into the box and then pull the ball back for Silva to prod in at the near post.
Bournemouth had made a stronger start to the second half, threatening when Antoine Semenyo flashed a shot narrowly over, before the red cards changed the game.
A dismal pass from Josko Gvardiol threatened to set Evanilson free and Kovacic’s tug was an obvious red. Guardiola reorganised and it was De Bruyne who made way to a huge ovation.But the numbers were soon level with Bournemouth skipper Lewis Cook going in two-footed on Gonzalez.
City fans were in party mood and there was another huge cheer with less than 10 minutes to go as Rodri replaced Erling Haaland, the Ballon d’Or winner making his first appearance since suffering anterior cruciate ligament injury in September.
It was the ‘mini-Rodri’, however, who struck City’s third in the 89th minute and they were grateful for the cushion as Jebbison punished a poor pass from Matheus Nunes at the death.
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