Manchester City came from behind against Bournemouth to score twice late in the second half and secure a 2–1 victory. The Premier League match was played at the Etihad Stadium on August 23, 2026, and marked Enzo Maresca’s first Premier League match in charge of Manchester City. Substitute Rayan Cherki was at the center of the turnaround. He assisted both the equalizer and the winning goal, changing the course of a match in which his team had been facing defeat.
Key Change: Two Goals After the 84th Minute Complete the Comeback
Bournemouth took the lead in the 26th minute through Marcus Tavernier. Manchester City remained a goal down for much of the match, but in the 84th minute, Marc Guéhi headed in the equalizer from Rayan Cherki’s corner. The match appeared to be heading for a draw, but the momentum shifted again in stoppage time.
In second-half stoppage time, Joško Gvardiol received Cherki’s pass and scored Manchester City’s winning goal. After trailing for so long following the opening goal, Manchester City turned the match around with an equalizer in the 84th minute and a stoppage-time winner.
Both of Manchester City’s goals began with assists from substitute Rayan Cherki.
Current Status: Cherki Changed the Match with Two Assists
Rayan Cherki transferred from Lyon to Manchester City, and according to the club’s official announcement, he signed a five-year contract running through the summer of 2030. Against Bournemouth, he came on as a substitute rather than starting and produced two decisive assists.
Opta Analyst reported that Cherki became the first Manchester City player to record multiple assists as a substitute in a single Premier League match. It also noted that this was the club’s first such instance since Ilkay Gündogan in December 2021. The match therefore showed more than who scored the winning goal: it highlighted how a substitute can influence attacking build-up, set pieces, and the final pass.
The match unfolded in the following sequence:
- 26th minute: Bournemouth’s Marcus Tavernier scored the opening goal.
- 84th minute: Marc Guéhi converted Rayan Cherki’s corner to equalize.
- Second-half stoppage time: Joško Gvardiol received Cherki’s pass and scored the winning goal.
Impact: Maresca’s First League Match and the End of Bournemouth’s Unbeaten Run
The victory was significant because it came in Enzo Maresca’s first Premier League match at Manchester City. Although City had not moved ahead of Bournemouth by the middle of the match, the two goals after the 84th minute changed the result of his first league game from a defeat into a victory.
The result also changed the opposition’s run. Bournemouth’s defeat ended its 18-match unbeaten streak in the Premier League. Manchester City’s 2–1 victory therefore recorded more than the result of a single game: Bournemouth’s ongoing unbeaten run came to an end at the Etihad Stadium.
The scoring pattern was clear. Tavernier scored Bournemouth’s opener, Guéhi scored Manchester City’s equalizer, and Gvardiol scored the winner. Cherki did not appear on the list of goalscorers, but he contributed assists to both goals. The key point of the match is therefore not only when Manchester City completed the comeback, but also how both scoring moves were completed after Cherki entered the game.
Next Checkpoint: Official Match Records and Follow-up Fixtures
The currently confirmed details are Manchester City’s 2–1 victory, Tavernier’s 26th-minute opener, Guéhi’s 84th-minute equalizer, and Gvardiol’s stoppage-time winning goal. The context of Cherki’s two assists and Maresca’s first Premier League match is also included in official league and club match records.
When checking the result again, readers should first consult the official match reports from Manchester City and the Premier League for the final score and goalscorers. Cherki’s multiple-assist record and the end of Bournemouth’s 18-match unbeaten run can be verified through Opta Analyst’s match analysis. Cherki’s role in subsequent matches should be confirmed through new official match records and club announcements.