Manchester City marked Enzo Maresca’s first Premier League game in charge with a stirring late rally, scoring twice in the final 10 minutes to grab a 2-1 victory at home to Bournemouth on Sunday.
Josko Gvardiol placed a finish into the bottom corner in the first minute of stoppage time for the winner, which was initially given offside before being awarded following a video review, after Marc Guehi had equalized with a 84th-minute header from a corner.
Maresca punched the air when Gvardiol’s goal was awarded and hugged his players on the field after the final whistle. A huge banner, reading “Welcome back Enzo,” had been held aloft by City fans as the Italian — Pep Guardiola’s assistant in City’s treble-winning 2022-23 season — emerged from the tunnel for his first home game as manager.
Wearing a sharp, black suit, Maresca certainly looked the part on the touchline but the slickness synonymous with City’s play under Guardiola down the years wasn’t quite there until the late comeback sparked by substitute Rayan Cherki, who set up both goals.
“It is the perfect day, to be honest,” Maresca said. "I was very pleased when the game started, to see the banner on the other side. And I was pleased because we give them the joy of the three points.
“It was quite emotional and the perfect day.”
Maresca began his time as Guardiola's replacement with a 3-0 loss to Arsenal in the Community Shield last weekend and has had to deal with the departure of star midfielder Rodri to Barcelona.
City might have found a long-term replacement for Rodri in 18-year-old Morocco international Ayyoub Bouaddi, who is set to join from Lille for 100 million euros ($117 million) according to French media, but for the Bournemouth game Maresca opted to deploy Guehi — a center back — as a midfielder instead.
It was a contentious decision given there were other midfield options on the bench, and it might prove to be a one-off, but Guehi grew into the role.
City striker Erling Haaland wasn't on the scoresheet in the first league game of the season for the first time since joining the club in 2022. He sported a new hairstyle — a buzz cut that went viral on social media ahead of kickoff — and wasted a couple of great chances to score with it.
Brighton scored four goals in the opening 31 minutes and also missed a slew of great chances in a 4-0 hammering of Aston Villa in the other early game.
To make matters worse for Villa, Joao Gomes was sent off for kicking out at Brighton’s Georginio Rutter in the 40th but the visitors somehow didn’t concede any more goals.
It has been a tough offseason for Villa, with key players Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans and Ezri Konsa leaving and speculation surrounding the future of Ollie Watkins and Emi Martinez at the club.
Brighton was sharper, having been in European qualifying action in midweek.
Later, Liverpool visits Newcastle for a match at St. James' Park, where there will be a tribute to Kevin Keegan — a star player for both clubs — following his death last month at age 75.
There was a period of silence before kickoff at the Man City-Bournemouth match in honor of Keegan, who was manager of City from 2001-05.
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Steve Douglas is at https://twitter.com/sdouglas80
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