Kevin De Bruyne ended his previous home game for Manchester City on a high note, with them defeating Bournemouth to catch up on a spot in the Champions League next season and both teams ended up with 10 men.
City Bounce Back After FA Cup Disappointment
City were shocked by Crystal Palace in Saturday’s FA Cup final and desperately needed to win against the Cherries to ensure they end the season in the top five of the Premier League in an otherwise calamitous season.
Pep Guardiola’s side are third, well placed going into Sunday’s final game of the season at Fulham, where a draw should see them into Europe’s premier table for a third successive season.
Rodri Returns as Etihad Roars
While all eyes were on Kevin De Bruyne on his final appearance at Etihad Stadium, a huge roar greeted the return from injury of Rodri, who last featured back in September.
Striker Omar Marmoush opened the scoring with a sensational 30-yard strike which swerved and crashed into the net via the post.
Kevin De Bruyne Misses a Golden Opportunity
Kevin De Bruyne, however, was smelling a goal and ought to have scored when Marmoush passed the ball to him a few yards out with an empty net to shoot at, but to the shock of everybody present, he seemed to scoop his attempt onto the crossbar.
Bernardo Silva prodded in a second but City displayed their frailties at the back between goals, with Evanilson stretching out a foot at a cross and thudding the post.
Substitute Nico Gonzalez whipped in the third, and while Dan Jebbison scored a late consolation, the defeat ruined Bournemouth’s ambitions of qualifying for Europe next term.
Double Red Cards Mar Physical Contest
Both teams had men sent off as last man Mateo Kovacic was sent off for grabbing Evanilson, and Lewis Cook was also sent off for a lunge on Gonzalez.
Guardiola has stated this season has not been good enough for his team, losing their four-year grip on the Premier League trophy, being eliminated early from the Champions League and stunned by Palace at Wembley.
Season Summary: A Tough Year for City
Few would have forecast at the beginning of the season that City would not only miss out on any significant silverware but also struggle to qualify in the Champions League positions.
But the three points against potentially troublesome opposition Bournemouth means that a failure to be beaten at Craven Cottage on Sunday should bring some semblance of satisfaction to an otherwise Below-par season.
Marmoush got the hosts underway with an astonishing long-range effort that was a pleasure to watch – the Egyptian’s eighth goal for City after signing from Eintracht Frankfurt in January.
Silva made it two to leave the home side in command before Gonzalez turned his first City goal into the back of the net, but the night was De Bruyne’s last as a visitor at the Etihad.
A Farewell to Remember for Kevin De Bruyne
The Belgian played in his 142nd and last home league game for City, and ought to have celebrated the occasion with a goal but plotted to strike the goal frame when it was easier to score.
The 33-year-old went on until the 69th minute when he was substituted by Gonzalez, and was also given a standing ovation as he left home for the last time.
Bournemouth’s slim ambitions of European competition next season were dashed and they could now be forced to have an outstanding team dismantled this summer.
Dean Huijsen has already committed himself to Real Madrid, and left-back Milos Kerkez has been mentioned in connection with moves to rivals City and title winners Liverpool.
Season Ends in Disappointment for Kevin De Bruyne and Man City
But there were few indications that the Cherries were going to stage a comeback after falling behind, although striker Evanilson did hit the post with Bournemouth hitting the woodwork 23 times in the league this term.
The straight red card for Kovacic’s trip back on Brazilian striker Evanilson as he was through on goal gave them a faint glimmer of hope, but they had been reduced to 10 men when skipper Cook mistimed his challenge.
Jebbison netted in stoppage time but Bournemouth, who have enjoyed a wonderful campaign themselves, failed at the wrong moment, winning merely one of their last five matches and sitting 11th in the standings, five points behind eighth-placed Brighton.
