Manchester City marked Enzo Maresca’s first Premier League game in charge with a late rally, scoring twice from the 84th minute 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 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,” was 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.
Maresca began his time as Guardiola's replacement with a 3-0 loss to Arsenal in the Community Shield last weekend.
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.
___
Steve Douglas is at https://twitter.com/sdouglas80
___
See AP’s full soccer coverage here
