AFC Bournemouth claimed a famous victory over Manchester City on Saturday afternoon, winning 2-1 against the reigning champions on a special day at the Vitality Stadium.
Antoine Semenyo opened the scoring for Andoni Iraola’s side in the 9th minute, finishing into the bottom corner after great work from Milos Kerkez on the left-hand side.
Evanilson doubled Bournemouth’s lead on 64 minutes, Kerkez once again the provider as the striker connected with the Hungarian’s delightful ball across the box, and slid the ball past Ederson.
Josko Gvardiol gave the visitors hope in the 82nd minute, heading an Ilkay Gundogan cross into the top corner, with Mark Travers unable to claw the effort away from his goal.
Manchester City put the Bournemouth goal under huge amounts of pressure in the final stages, Erling Haaland striking the post deep into injury time, but the Cherries held on for a memorable win.
The result sees the Bournemouth climb up to eighth place in the Premier League, as well as ending Manchester City’s unbeaten start to the 24/25 Premier League season.
Andoni Iraola made three changes to the side that snatched a late point at Villa Park last weekend, with Evanilson, Adam Smith and Marcus Tavernier coming in for Enes Unal, Julian Araujo and the injured Dango Ouattara.
The Cherries started in rapid fashion, Ederson pulling off a fine double save to prevent first Semenyo as the winger burst through the middle, and then Justin Kluivert who fired the rebound towards goal.
Ryan Christie went into the book after just five minutes, referee Michael Oliver deciding that the midfielder’s innocuous challenge on Phil Foden in the centre of the park was worthy of a yellow card.
It wasn’t long before the Cherries capitalised on their fast start, Kerkez leaving Foden for dead at the byline and cutting the ball back to Semenyo, who swivelled beautifully to fire the ball past Ederson.
Iraola’s side continued to look dangerous in the opening stages, pressing the league leaders high and moving the ball around with confidence, but midway through the first half City started to take control of the game.
Foden curled in two dangerous balls in quick succession, with Haaland peeling off at the back post, but the Norwegian striker was unable to divert either of the chances goalwards.
The pressure continued from Pep Guardiola’s side, and on the half hour mark Bernardo Silva saw his goalbound effort superbly blocked by the sliding Kerkez, after smart play on the left-hand side by Matheus Nunes.
Haaland was the next to try and break down the resilient Cherries backline, holding off Senesi in the box, but the forward only managed to scuff his strike into the side netting.
Bournemouth started the second half in the same fashion as the first period, Semenyo bearing down on Ederson in the City goal, before Evanilson whipped the ball off the winger’s toes and his close-range effort was thwarted by his Brazilian counterpart.
The chances kept on coming for Manchester City however, first Haaland had his header blocked by Zabarnyi, before Foden spurned a glorious chance as he dragged his shot wide.
On the hour mark, the Cherries had a golden chance to double their lead when Semenyo left Kyle Walker on the ground as he galloped towards goal, before trading passes with Kluivert and seeing his shot blocked.
Just five minutes later Iraola’s side had their second, Semenyo drove forward and found Kerkez racing down the left wing, and the Hungarian curled a delicious ball across the box for the arriving Evanilson to slide home.
Man City looked completely rattled, and Kluivert almost took the roof off the Vitality when he cut inside and fired his shot off the inside of the post, with Adam Smith unable to convert the rebound.
With twenty minutes to go Bournemouth showed no sign of slowing down, Kluivert again trying his luck from the edge of the box, but his strike was straight into the hands of Ederson.
David Brooks entered the fray with ten minutes left on the clock, and almost made an instant impact, but could only find the side netting with his right footed effort.
Mark Travers had very little to do all afternoon, but was on hand to deny Haaland’s close range volley, as City pushed for a way back into the contest.
Moments later the away side had their goal, Gvardiol heading Gundogan's curling cross into the top corner, with Travers inches away from making an acrobatic save.
The goal gave the league leaders newfound hope, substitute Jeremy Doku forcing a smart stop from Travers as the clocked ticked past the 90-minute mark, before Gvardiol almost had his second at the back post.
The pressure continued deep into added time, Travers once again called into action producing a fine save to deny Haaland, before the striker directed the rebound onto the post.
However, the Cherries held on to complete what was their first ever victory over Manchester City, and ensure it was a famous day at the Vitality Stadium.