Manchester City’s remarkable 32-match unbeaten streak in the Premier League came to an end on Saturday, as they suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Bournemouth.
The loss marked an unexpected turn for the champions, who had been dominant across the league.
At Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth achieved a momentous win, overcoming Manchester City for the very first time in their history.
In their 22nd attempt, the Cherries finally triumphed over the reigning champions, breaking a longstanding record in what will be remembered as a landmark victory for the south coast club.
This landmark win was propelled by goals from Antoine Semenyo and Evanilson, a performance marked by the Cherries’ confidence and aggression, built on recent momentum from four points in their prior matches against Aston Villa and Arsenal.
The hosts wasted no time asserting their intent. Within the opening two minutes, City’s goalkeeper Ederson had to produce a double save to thwart Semenyo and Justin Kluivert.
Bournemouth’s early high press and swift movements kept City’s defense under relentless pressure, and they found their breakthrough in the ninth minute.
Milos Kerkez drove a cut-back from the byline, perfectly positioned for Semenyo to guide it past Ederson, handing the Cherries a well-earned early lead.
Manchester City, in uncharacteristically subdued form, failed to create a single shot on target in a frustrating first half.
Bournemouth, bolstered by their fans’ “ole” chants with every successful pass, dominated the play.
Their organized defense and energetic attack left City struggling to make any headway.
As the second half began, Bournemouth maintained their intensity. Just moments after the restart, Evanilson almost doubled the lead, but Ederson’s quick reflexes kept him at bay.
However, Evanilson made the most of his next opportunity, latching onto another sharp pass from Kerkez and slotting the ball into the bottom corner.
City’s struggles continued as they tried to mount a response. Bournemouth had the chance to extend their lead to three, but Adam Smith, presented with an open net after Marcus Tavernier’s shot ricocheted off the post, blasted over the bar. In the 80th minute, City managed a tame attempt on goal with Erling Haaland’s volley failing to trouble Bournemouth’s Mark Travers.
Josko Gvardiol finally gave City a glimmer of hope, scoring with a powerful header in the 82nd minute. But despite their efforts, City couldn’t force an equalizer.
Deep into stoppage time, Haaland almost salvaged a point, his close-range shot denied on the line before his rebound struck the post.
City’s defeat, coupled with Liverpool’s comeback win over Brighton, saw them slip to second in the table, while Bournemouth’s victory moved them up to eighth.
It marked a memorable day for the Cherries, who not only ended a long-standing winless streak against City but also underscored their resilience and unity under Andoni Iraola’s management.
Reflecting on Bournemouth’s history with City, this win broke a sequence of 21 encounters without a victory. Previously, their only points came from two draws in 1989 and 1999.
Defying expectations, Iraola’s side showed no fear, pressing City from the start and keeping their foot on the pedal. Semenyo and Kerkez starred, but the entire team contributed to holding off a late City surge.
Pep Guardiola, grappling with an injury-hit squad, fielded a strong lineup featuring stars like Haaland, Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva, Ederson, Ilkay Gundogan, and Kyle Walker.
However, City’s usual fluency was missing, with minimal cohesion between their midfield and attack. The Citizens relied heavily on wide crosses to attempt a comeback, but Bournemouth’s well-organized defense held firm.
Even after Gvardiol’s late goal, Bournemouth’s defense held tight as City camped around their box in the dying minutes.
Travers made a crucial goalline save to deny Haaland a last-gasp equalizer, while Foden missed a chance from the edge of the area.
As the final whistle blew, Bournemouth’s persistence and bravery saw them claim a famous win that will be remembered for years to come.
