Manchester City 2-1 AFC Bournemouth: result and report

Report

## Manchester City's late turnaround

Manchester City got the home win they were expected to produce, but they left it very late. AFC Bournemouth led from the 26th minute until the 84th. For most of the match, the expected result looked out of reach.

Marcus Tavernier gave AFC Bournemouth the lead on 26 minutes after Evanilson set him up. That goal held until Marc Guéhi equalised on 84 minutes from a Rayan Cherki assist. Then, in the first minute of stoppage time, Josko Gvardiol scored the winner, again from a Cherki pass. Because Cherki set up both goals, no player did more to turn the match around.

Chances against the scoreline

The scoreline flattered AFC Bournemouth for most of the game because Manchester City created far more. Manchester City finished with 2.13 xG to 0.57 and four big chances to one. They also had 11 shots to five, 66% of the ball and ten key passes to four.

The problem was finishing, though. Manchester City missed three big chances, while AFC Bournemouth scored from the only one they created. That gap in finishing explains why such a one-sided match was still 1-0 to the away side with six minutes left.

The territory figures show a similar picture. Manchester City recorded 60 dangerous attacks to AFC Bournemouth's eight, and their pressure was far heavier across the match. A late equaliser was always more likely than a second AFC Bournemouth goal, even if it took until the 84th minute to arrive.

AFC Bournemouth were not without threat, however. Four of their five shots were on target, so Manchester City still had to make three saves. Their attacking threat was rare, but they made most of their attempts count.