Manchester City kicked off their new Premier League campaign with a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory against Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium. The match served as a successful debut for new head coach Enzo Maresca, whose side overcame a deficit with two late goals to secure all three points in a high-stakes encounter.
The hosts dominated the early exchanges, but the momentum shifted in the 26th minute when Bournemouth stunned the home crowd. Marcus Tavernier finished a clinical counter-attack to put the visitors ahead, leaving City trailing as they headed into the halftime break. Despite persistent pressure throughout the second half, City struggled to break down a resilient Bournemouth defense, with star striker Erling Haaland missing several key opportunities and goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic making a series of crucial saves.
The match turned in the final minutes as the hosts intensified their pursuit of an equalizer. In the 84th minute, Marc Guehi rose to meet a precise corner kick from substitute Rayan Cherki, heading the ball home to level the score. The comeback was completed in the second minute of stoppage time when Josko Gvardiol found the back of the net, again assisted by a delivery from Cherki. Although an offside flag was initially raised, the goal was confirmed following a VAR review.
The final whistle sparked jubilant scenes at the Etihad, marking a memorable start for Maresca’s tenure. The victory highlighted the team’s resilience under pressure, as they successfully overturned a difficult deficit to claim a hard-fought win in their opening fixture of the season.
