BOURNEMOUTH 1, MANCHESTER CITY 3
David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne made history for Manchester City while helping the team to a 3-1 win at Bournemouth to send them up to second in the Premier League.
Embed from Getty ImagesDe Bruyne’s miscued shot allowed Sergio Aguero to open the scoring while earning him his 50th Premier League assist in just 123 appearances.
City captain David Silva was making his 400th appearance for City and laid on Raheem Sterling’s goal and created Aguero’s second which was his 400th career goal for club and country.
In between those two goals was a world class free kick by on-loan Liverpool player Harry Wilson to reduce the deficit.
But there was more VAR controversy after Silva appeared to be fouled by Jefferson Lerma in the second half but there was no invitation to review referee Paul Marriner’s decision to take no action.
The score at the time was 2-1 to City and Aguero went on to make it 3-1 a minute later but the much maligned system was give short shrift again by travelling City fans.
City boss Pep Guardiola made just one change with Rodri stepping down to the bench to be replaced by David Silva – making his 400th appearance for City – with Ilkay Gundogan sitting deeper as Pep Guardiola went more attacking away at Bournemouth.
Aguero continued in the side as Gabriel Jesus was ruled out with a hamstring injury in training and his place on City’s bench was taken by Angelino.
The Cherries had the first shot on goal, though, as Joshua King robbed Kevin De Bruyne and tested Ederson with a tame shot.
City rode their luck in the early stages escaping a red card for two bad fouls by Kyle Walker while Ederson was similarly foolhardy in trying to beat Callum Wilson to a through ball but mistiming his challenge.
Raheem Sterling created space, drawing off a defender, allowing Oleksandr Zinchenko space to cross for Kevin De Bruyne who miskicked his attempt only to see it drop for the Aguero who coolly finished.
It might have been a miscue but De Bruyne’s assist broke Mesut Ozil’s record for swiftest to reach 50 Premier League assists – reaching the target in 123 games to beat Ozil’s 141.
Aaron Ramsdale saved a volley from David Silva after City had upped a gear after taking the lead.
Harry Wilson came on for the injured Charlie Daniels who went down off the ball with a serious looking knee injury – an attacking substitution.
Adam Smith was presented with a great chance to equalise after Nicolas Otamendi’s mistake but Ederson acrobatically made the save to tip the ball away.
And City were soon 2-0 up after Sterling poking the ball home from six yards after a brilliantly timed run to meet David Silva’s ball – his fifth goal of the season.
Harry Wilson with superb free kick to give Bournemouth hope against Manchester City
Bournemouth won a free kick in added time after Aymeric Laporte pushed Callum Wilson just outside the area and Harry Wilson’s free kick beat Ederson at full stretch to finish inside the top corner after dipping in off the woodwork.
Ederson blocked Callum Wilson’s second half shot and denied Wilson a shot on goal by intercepting a cross as Bournemouth chased an equaliser.
Guardiola steadied the ship by bringing on Rodri for Gundogan and soon afterwards Jefferson Lerma appeared to tread on David Silva’s foot in the Bournemouth area – contact which seemed to have been missed by Paul Marriner.
And there was more controversy after VAR seemed to agree with Marriner’s assessment of no penalty.
A minute later Aguero scored anyway after the ball fell to him and the Argentine snatched up the chance to score with the loose ball falling between defenders after David Silva had made his way into the box – his fourth goal of the season and 400th goal for club and country with 235 of those coming for City.
Sterling managed to hit both posts with a curling shot after De Bruyne had played him in but he was offside anyway.
Ederson saved from Dominic Solanke after Josh King had played him in before Joao Cancelo finally made his City bow at the end of the game, replacing Kyle Walker, as City saw out the win.
GOALS – Bournemouth 1, Manchester City 3
Man City 1, Bournemouth 0: 15. Oleksandr Zinchenko’s cross for Kevin De Bruyne was miskicked into the path of Sergio Aguero, who was unmarked, and the Argentine scored. It was De Bruyne’s 50th Premier League assist in 123 games – a record – for Aguero’s third goal in 3 games this season.
Man City 2, Bournemouth 0: 43. David Silva’s through ball was perfectly weighted for Raheem Sterling to poke home from 6 yards out – his 5th goal of the season.
Man City 2, Bournemouth 1: 45+3. Harry Wilson, on loan from Liverpool, pulled one back for Bournemouth with a superb free kick which arrowed into the top corner.
Man City 3, Bournemouth 1: 63. Sergio Aguero snatched up his second of the day after reacting first to a loose ball which fell between defenders after David Silva’s run into the box.
MATCH STATS – Bournemouth 1, Manchester City 3
Man City: Ederson, Walker (Cancelo 90), Otamendi, Laporte, Zinchenko, De Bruyne, Gundogan (Rodri 58), David Silva, Bernardo Silva (Mahrez 79), Sterling, Aguero
Man City Subs not used: Bravo, Angelino, Fernandinho, Foden
Booked: Walker 11 (foul on Nathan Ake), Ederson 14 (foul on Callum Wilson), Otamendi 90 (diving in on Josh King)
Goal: Aguero 15, Sterling 43
Bournemouth: Ramsdale, Adam Smith (Ibe 68), Mepham, Steve Cook, Ake, Daniels (Harry Wilson 37), King, Lerma, Billing, Fraser, Callum Wilson (Solanke 69)
Bournemouth Subs not used: Boruc, Surman, Rico, Simpson
Booked: Lerma 57 (foul on Kevin De Bruyne)
Goal: Harry Wilson 45+3
Referee: Andre Marriner