Slick City Eased Past Bournemouth to move Second in EPL

BrandPower Magazine 26/08/2019Last Updated: 26/08/2019

2 minutes read

Two goals from Sergio Aguero and a Raheem Sterling strike eased Manchester City to a 3-1 win at Bournemouth.

Aguero opened the scoring in the 14th minute with a cool finish from inside the box before Raheem Sterling doubled City’s advantage two minutes before the break after being played in by David Silva.

Bournemouth were given a lifeline in first-half stoppage time when substitute Harry Wilson – on for the injured Charlie Daniels – curled home a superb free-kick to reduce the gap to 2-1.

But Aguero showed his poaching skills again in the 64th minute to smash home his second after more good work from man-of-the-match Silva, who was making his 400th City appearance.

The result moves City up to second place in the table, two points behind last season’s main rivals Liverpool.

City looked a little uncertain early on in the first half as Kyle Walker and goalkeeper Ederson were booked, the latter after charging out and taking out Callum Wilson near the touchline.

But with the game approaching the quarter-hour mark, Oleksandr Zinchenko’s cross into the area was mishit by Kevin De Bruyne and fell into the path of Aguero, the Argentine taking a touch and calmly rolling his shot into the corner of the net.

Raheem Sterling had scored eight goals in his previous seven games against Bournemouth and added to that tally in the 43rd minute when latching on to a David Silva pass and lashing the ball past Aaron Ramsdale.

The injury to Daniels meant six minutes of added time in the first period and, in the third of those, on-loan Liverpool winger Wilson added to his reputation for being one of the best dead-ball experts around by finding the top corner with a brilliant free-kick to cut City’s lead in half.

He was given the chance after Aymeric Laporte had fouled Callum Wilson 25 yards out.

Bournemouth kept City honest and Ederson had to make some important stops but Aguero delivered what proved the killer blow with his second of the game – and 400th in club football – with another piece of quick thinking in the area.

David Silva danced into the Bournemouth box and, when the ball broke loose, Aguero was first to react to smash home and bring up his landmark.

City, who have now won nine straight away games in the Premier League, were far from their brilliant best but always looked as if they had extra gears.

And a favourable fixture list – this was the first of nine games against sides who didn’t finish in the top six last season – gives them the ideal chance to put more pressure on Liverpool.

Samson Oyedeyi