Bournemouth 2-1 Man City: Antoine Semenyo, Evanilson strike as Premier League champions shocked on the south coast
Manchester City experienced their first Premier League loss of 2024, falling 2-1 to Bournemouth in a match where they put in a lackluster performance at the Vitality Stadium.
Antoine Semenyo and Evanilson scored to secure a well-earned win for the Cherries, marking the first time they have ever defeated their opponents in league play throughout their history.
Liverpool's thrilling comeback victory over Brighton allowed them to claim the top spot, pushing Manchester City down in the standings.
Bournemouth came out strong right from the beginning. Within just two minutes, Ederson had to make a quick double save, first stopping a shot from Semenyo and then getting a hand on Justin Kluivert's follow-up attempt. As the fast pace continued, the sharp-eyed Semenyo received a pass from Milos Kerkez and calmly scored his fourth goal of the season.
Man City struggled to find their rhythm in attack and ended the first half, surprisingly, without managing a single shot on target. Kerkez made a courageous block on a shot from Bernardo Silva, and Erling Haaland sent his attempt off target, but those moments were the highlights of their first half.
Ederson made a crucial save to stop Evanilson from increasing the home team's advantage shortly after the second half began. However, just 64 minutes in, Evanilson managed to score, connecting perfectly with a tricky pass from Kerkez that surprised the City goalkeeper.
Incredibly, it could have been a third goal just moments later when the Cherries launched another attack. However, Marcus Tavernier hit the post, and Adam Smith somehow managed to send the rebound soaring over the open net.
Josko Gvardiol connected with a cross from Ilkay Gundogan, sending a looping header into the net and reducing the lead. This created a nail-biting finish. However, Manchester City realized their fortunes had turned when Haaland hit a straightforward shot that bounced off the post from close range right at the end.
Match Stats Tell The Story
Iraola Enjoys Rare Victory Over City
Bournemouth's coach, Andoni Iraola:
It feels amazing. Beating City is no easy task. We should savor this moment today; tomorrow we’ll focus on preparing for Brentford.
Regardless of the outcome, I’m really proud of how we played. It’s tough to secure a victory against them, and even though we faced challenges right up to the final moments, I believe we truly earned this win.
"I've been defeated by him [Guardiola] numerous times, so it's important to savor the moments when you finally win!"
"This is their first Premier League defeat of 2024, and it's already November. You have to appreciate it because such moments are rare."
Guardiola: Bournemouth Earned Their Victory
Pep Guardiola, the head coach of Manchester City:
"We weren't able to keep up with Bournemouth's energy, especially since they had six or seven days to prepare. Our recovery time was shorter due to the trip from London."
"We discussed the need to improve our duels in that area. They had their opportunities, and we managed to create a few chances, especially towards the end. We had our moments, but we struggled to defend against their long balls. When that occurs, it forces us to defend deeper."
The team really put their all into it. After spending nine years with them, I realize they truly tried their best, but it just wasn't enough to match up against that other team at that particular time.
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Kyle Walker has put in 16 days of training without actually participating in a single session. His dedication is remarkable. Just yesterday marked our first team practice. Manuel Akanji missed the last match due to a minor injury, and Nathan Ake has been facing some challenges, yet he has also shown great determination.
"It's not only about that; when you find yourself in that situation, you need to focus more and strive a little harder to succeed."
"We recognized that Bournemouth is performing well at this time of year and they truly deserve it. Under different situations, we might have been able to protect our unbeaten streak."
