Audio By Carbonatix
Kevin de Bruyne signed off from his last home game for Manchester City on a high, as they beat Bournemouth to close in on a place in the Champions League next season - and both sides finished with 10 men.
City were stunned by Crystal Palace in Saturday's FA Cup final and desperately needed victory against the Cherries to help ensure they finish in the Premier League's top five in an otherwise miserable season.
Pep Guardiola's men are now third, in a strong position heading into Sunday's last game of the season at Fulham (16:00 BST), where a point should be enough to ensure a return to Europe's top table.
While all eyes were on De Bruyne on his final appearance at Etihad Stadium, a huge roar greeted the return from injuryof 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.
De Bruyne, though, was sniffing a goal and should have converted when Marmoush laid the ball to him a couple of yards out with an open net to aim at, but to the astonishment of all in attendance, he somehow scooped his effort on to the crossbar.
Bernardo Silva poked home a second but City showed their vulnerabilities at the back in between the goals, as Evanilson stretched a foot out at a cross and rattled the post.
Substitute Nico Gonzalez lashed in the third, and although Dan Jebbison grabbed a late consolation, the loss ended Bournemouth's hopes of qualifying for Europe next season.
Both sides had players sent off as last man Mateo Kovacic was dismissed for a tug on Evanilson, while Lewis Cook was also given a red card for a lunge on Gonzalez.
Latest Stories
-
FACT-CHECK: Viral image of Mahama in FTY sneakers and Denim jacket is fake
7 minutes -
Instagram denies breach after many receive emails asking to reset password
15 minutes -
Real Madrid part ways with Alonso, appoint Arbeloa as replacement
17 minutes -
Jospong Group CEO urges deliberate leadership cultivation at 2026 JLC Conference
19 minutes -
Bernard Mornah says Akufo-Addo’s record should be ‘covered with bitumen’
31 minutes -
Asantehene destools Apatrapahemaa over lineage dispute
47 minutes -
BoG Governor calls for review of GoldBod’s trading model, proposes budget support to sustain gold for reserves programme
57 minutes -
ORC begins enforcement of GH¢500 penalty for failure to file beneficial ownership information
1 hour -
GRA assures it will meet GH¢225bn target for 2026 despite tax reform concerns
1 hour -
Ofori-Atta Saga : Ex-appointees must face probes when invited – John Darko
1 hour -
Haruna Mohammed rules out removal of names from NPP album
1 hour -
Volta House of Chiefs nullifies enstoolment of Roland Adiko as paramount chief of Tanyigbe, affirms rotational succession
1 hour -
FACT CHECK: Kennedy Agyapong’s claim that Adenta is a traditional NPP seat and that Bawumia did not campaign there is false
1 hour -
Iran: Videos from mortuary show how deadly protests have become
1 hour -
Over 2,000 screened as Ashanti Region Police recruitment exercise progresses
2 hours
