Manchester City vs Bournemouth Report
Scorers: Marmoush 14’, Silva 38’, Nico 89’; Jebbison 90+6’
Red cards: Kovacic 67’; Cook 74’
Manchester City edged closer to UEFA Champions League qualification with a commanding 3-1 victory over Bournemouth, but the night belonged to Kevin De Bruyne, who was given an emotional send-off in what was his final home appearance for the club. Despite a rare and shocking miss from the legendary playmaker, City’s win ensured they remain on track for a top-five finish.
First Half – Marmoush Wonder Goal and De Bruyne Miss Make Headlines
The Etihad crowd was treated to a memorable moment in the 15th minute when Omar Marmoush picked up a short pass from Mateo Kovačić and unleashed a rocket of a strike from 30 yards, thundering into the top corner — a goal worthy of De Bruyne himself.
But the most surreal moment of the night followed in the 25th minute, when Marmoush’s low cross fell perfectly to De Bruyne six yards out with the goal gaping. Uncharacteristically, the Belgian leaned back and somehow crashed his shot off the crossbar, prompting laughter and disbelief from the crowd and even his family in the stands.
That miss nearly proved costly, as Evanilson struck the post for the visitors after meeting a cross from Marcus Tavernier. However, City restored control just before the break, with Ilkay Gündoğan finding Bernardo Silva in the box, who calmly slotted home from close range — completing the task De Bruyne had earlier failed.
Second Half – Red Cards, Revenge, and a Rodri Return
The second half took a dramatic turn when Kovačić was shown a straight red card for hauling down Evanilson as he raced through on goal. The sending-off prompted Pep Guardiola to withdraw De Bruyne in the 67th minute to shore up midfield, replacing him with Nico González.
But justice was soon served for González, who was on the receiving end of a dangerous studs-up challenge from Lewis Cook that earned the Bournemouth midfielder a straight red card and reduced both sides to 10 men.
City then sealed the result in the 88th minute when González broke away and finished coolly, securing a 3-0 lead. Though Daniel Jebbison netted a late consolation in injury time following a mistake from Matheus Nunes, it did little to dampen the celebratory mood.
The return of Rodri in the 83rd minute after a long injury absence was another highlight, drawing rapturous applause from the home faithful.
Conclusion – A Night for the Etihad to Remember
On a night when Bruce Springsteen performed nearby, Manchester had its own version of “The Boss” bidding farewell. De Bruyne, with 19 trophies and a decade of dominance behind him, received a heartfelt guard of honour and pyrotechnics, as fans donned Belgian flags and masks in his honour.
Despite one unforgettable miss, his legacy remains untarnished — a midfield maestro who redefined creativity in the Premier League. With Champions League qualification nearly sealed and Rodri back in the fold, City look poised to end the season on a high, but it was the tribute to De Bruyne that will live longest in the memory.
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Man City v Bournemouth, 2024/25 | Premier League