KEVIN DE BRUYNE fluffed his lines on his big night – but still ended up taking the plaudits.
The Belgian maestro missed a first half sitter as he bowed out of his beloved Etihad by helping his team to one more vital win.
PAKevin De Bruyne waved goodbye to the Man City fans at Etihad Stadium[/caption]
GettyFans honoured the Belgian with a huge banner[/caption]
GettyDe Bruyne hit the crossbar inside the six-yard box to miss a golden opportunity for the perfect goodbye[/caption]
GettyOmar Marmoush opened the scoring with a stunning long-range effort[/caption]
Omar Marmoush, Bernardo Silva and Nico Gonzalez got the goals which put Manchester City on the brink of a 15th straight season in the Champions League.
But it was all about KDB on what was a night of red hair, red faces and two red cards.
It was always going to be an emotional night as the City faithful said goodbye to one of their all-time favourites – yet amid it all there was an important game to win.
Their dismal draw at Southampton 10 days ago left them needing four points from their last two matches to be sure of Champions League football next season.
A home game with Bournemouth is normally a guaranteed win for Pep Guardiola’s men – it was seven in a row against the Cherries before this.
But these are not normal times for City as Saturday’s FA Cup final showed.
So there was plenty riding on KDB’s 142nd and final league appearance on what has become his playground over the last decade.
Guardiola had said he hoped his players could use the emotion of the occasion to their advantage and in the early stages they did.
APMarmoush scored from distance to open the scoring[/caption]
Mateo Kovacic had already gone close when they took the lead in sensational fashion in the 14th minute.
Omar Marmoush takes a pass from Gvardiol – advances from near his own half before unleashing a 30 yard stunner into the top corner.
Kepa Arrizabalaga was on his line but had no chance as it kissed the top of the post on its way in.
That was some way to make up the penalty miss at Wembley on Saturday – his eighth goal for the club was the best by some margin.
Nobody can argue the Egyptian has perked up City since he arrived in January and his emergence will make the departure of KDB easier to swallow.
De Bruyne almost provided one last assist for his old partner in crime Erling Haaland but for once the Norwegian could not apply the finishing touch.
A lovely move down the left saw Marmoush slide the ball across goal but De Bruyne somehow failed to convert – hitting the bar from six yards out with the goal at his mercy.
Guardiola had his head in his hands – so did De Bruyne’s family up in their box. Nobody could quite believe it.
And for a while the party inside the stadium went a little flat – with the crowd stunned into silence.
Bournemouth – who began the night still with an outside chance of claiming European football – almost took advantage.
A cross from the left from Marcus Tavernier fell into the path of Evanilson but his shot beat his fellow Brazilian Ederson but thumped against the post.
They got away with one and made the most of their reprieve.
A cross from Mathens Nunes was only half cleared and Ilkay Gundogan turned the ball into the path of Bernardo Silva who turned in from close range.
AFPBernardo Silva doubled City’s lead[/caption]
It was not dissimilar to his strike against Real Madrid here two years ago – and had City fans dreaming of more Champions League nights here.
De Bruyne wasn’t involved but was probably the most relieved man in the stadium – as it felt like a proper send off again.
The visitors had a lot to do in the second half if they were going to be party poopers but this City team give you chances.
Antoine Semenyo weaved his way along the edge of the box before firing his shot narrowly over the bar.
And their hopes of getting back into it were lifted when a terrible pass from Josko Gvardiol put Evanilson in on goal.
Gvardiol’s fellow Croatian Kovacic pulled back the Brazilian and could have no complaints when Thomas Bramall pulled out the red card.
It left Guardiola kicking his seat in the dug-out in frustration – and also ended KDB’s special night abruptly.
He was replaced by defensive midfielder Nico as City had no option but to shore things up.
The end had come a few minutes earlier than expected but needless to say he left the field to a huge – and richly deserved standing ovation.
For years to come, he will be remembered as the club’s most successful player ever, having picked up 19 pieces of silverware in his glittering 10 year stay.
The Cherries’ man advantage only lasted a couple of minutes as Lewis Cook jumped in wildly on the City sub near the half way line – and he followed Kovacic down the tunnel.
De Bruyne’s send off was loud but the cheer which greeted the return of Rodri ran it close.
The Ballon D’Or winner returned as a sub for Haaland with seven minutes to go – after eight months out with a cruciate ligament injury.
They have missed him enormously while he has been rehabilitating – what a huge lift it will be to have him back.
Yet it was one of the men bought to replace him – Nico – who capped things off, taking a pass from Nunes in his stride and curling home a beauty.
A loose back pass from Nunes wrong-footed Ruben Dias and sub Daniel Jebbison’s effort just had enough on it to beat Ederson – but it was little more than a consolation.
GettyMateo Kovacic was sent off for a pull-back on Evanilson[/caption]
ReutersLewis Cook saw red for a dangerous tackle on Nico Gonzalez[/caption]
PARodri made his return to action following his ACL injury[/caption]
GettyNico Gonzalez scored Man City’s third goal[/caption]
GettyDaniel Jebbison bagged a consolation goal for Bournemouth[/caption]
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