Manchester City edge Bournemouth 2-1 in Premier League curtain-raiser
Manchester City edged Bournemouth 2-1 in their Premier League opener at the Etihad Stadium, with Josko Gvardiol’s stoppage-time header sealing a dramatic comeback.
Source: ANTARA News · August 23, 2026 at 4:31 PM · AI-assisted report
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KUALA LUMPUR, 24 AUGUST 2026 —
Manchester City edged Bournemouth 2-1 in their Premier League opener at the Etihad Stadium, with Josko Gvardiol’s stoppage-time header sealing a dramatic comeback.
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Bournemouth took the lead in the 27th minute when Marcus Tavernier finished a counter-attack to give the visitors a half-time advantage. Manchester City dominated possession in the second half but lacked clear chances until Marc Guehi levelled in the 84th minute with a header from a corner. Gvardiol then completed the recovery in injury time, controlling Rico Lewis’s cross before powering the ball past Dorde Petrovic.
The result lifts City to sixth in the provisional standings with three points, while Bournemouth remain 13th. Manchester City held 64% of possession but created few clear-cut opportunities until the late winner, with Erling Haaland’s 75th-minute attempt saved by Petrovic. Enzo Maresca secured his first win as City manager.
The visitors defended deep and absorbed pressure before exploiting breaks, with Evanilson’s cross leading to Tavernier’s opener. Bournemouth lacked composure in the final third, and their best chance came from Justin Kluivert in the second half.