AFC Bournemouth
AFC Bournemouth suffered a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester City at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
Goals from Ilkay Gundogan, Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden and an own goal from Jefferson Lerma sealed the win for Pep Guardiola’s side on a sweltering afternoon in which the Cherries gave a good account of themselves but were ultimately outgunned by the Premier League champions.
Scott Parker made three changes to the side that beat Aston Villa last weekend, with Dominic Solanke and Jordan Zemura missing out through injury and illness respectively and Philip Billing dropping to the bench. Ryan Christie, Lewis Cook and Jack Stacey were restored to the starting line up.
City started brightly and went close twice within the first five minutes as Nathan Ake and Rodri both stooped to meet corners, but both steered their headers over the bar.
Mark Travers was called into action for the first time after eight minutes as Phil Foden broke free inside the box, but the Irish ‘keeper got down brilliantly to block Foden’s goalbound effort with his left foot.
Travers was powerless to stop City going in front after 18 minutes however, as Erling Haaland showed great strength to hold off two challenges and thread the ball through to Ilkay Gundogan, who took a touch and side footed a neat finish into the far corner.
The Cherries had their first sight of goal after 21 minutes as Kieffer Moore nodded the ball down to Ben Pearson who fired a left-footed shot goalwards, but Ederson reacted well to dive and gather to his left.
Though the visitors had begun to settle, they found themselves two behind on the half hour mark after a moment of brilliance from Kevin De Bruyne. The Belgian picked up a loose ball in midfield before driving into the box and threading the ball into the far corner with the outside of his boot.
City killed the game off on 37 minutes as Phil Foden made it 3-0. De Bruyne collected a pinpoint diagonal ball from Mahrez and slotted it through to the advancing Foden, whose low shot deflected off Lloyd Kelly and Travers before finding its way into the corner and sending the hosts into half-time in control
The second half started slowly with both sides re-acclimatising to the stifling conditions and City continuing to dominate possession and look threatening in front of goal. Travers again had to be at his best to deny both De Bruyne and Mahrez as the game moved towards the hour mark – the 23-year-old reacting well twice in five minutes to beat away the midfielders’ respective efforts.
The tempo from both sides dropped as the heat took its toll, but Haaland had a great chance to make it four on 73 minutes as he latched onto a low cross from substitute Jack Grealish, but he could only scuff wide from eight yards out.
The fourth goal did come after 79 minutes, as Joao Cancelo did well to make space for a low cross inside the box, which deflected off the helpless Jefferson Lerma and into the back of the net.
The debut of Marcos Senesi and a first Premier League appearance for Jamal Lowe, who’d been playing in non-league football as recently as 2016/17, ensured there were positives for the Cherries to take away from Etihad Stadium.
Scott Parker’s side will be back in action at Vitality Stadium next weekend for the visit of Arsenal.
CITY: Ederson, Walker (Lewis 82’), Dias (Stones 64’), Ake, Cancelo, Gundogan (Silva 65’), Haaland (Alvarez 74’), Rodri, De Bruyne, Mahrez, Foden (Grealish 45’).
UNUSED SUBS: Ortega, Delap, Mbete, Wilson-Esbrand.
GOALS: Gundogan (19’), De Bruyne (31’), Foden (37’), Lerma OG (79’)
CHERRIES: Travers, Cook (Billing 64’), Kelly, Mepham, Lerma, Christie (Stanislas 63’), Smith, Tavernier (Senesi 80’), Stacey, Moore (Lowe 90’), Pearson.
UNUSED SUBS: Neto, Marcondes, Dembele, Hill, Anthony.
YELLOW CARDS: Mepham, Smith, Stacey.
