Manchester Metropolis cruised to a 3-1 win over Bournemouth on Kevin De Bruyne’s Etihad Stadium farewell to place themselves on the point of Champions League qualification.
Metropolis didn’t let the frustration of their FA Cup remaining defeat to Crystal Palace linger as they ensured De Bruyne’s remaining house recreation for the membership was capped with a win that strikes Pep Guardiola’s males into third and leaves them needing only a level at Fulham on the ultimate day to make sure of a spot within the Champions League.
Omar Marmoush’s elegant 30-yard strike put Metropolis on their manner within the 14th minute and, after a bemusing miss from De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva made it 2-0 seven minutes earlier than half-time.
There was a pink card for both sides within the second half as Mateo Kovacic was despatched off within the 67th minute earlier than Lewis Cook dinner adopted him down the tunnel six minutes later.
Metropolis have been in a position to have fun the return of Rodri from an ACL damage as he got here off the bench, with Nico Gonzalez capping off a routine win within the 89th minute. Daniel Jebbison’s stoppage-time effort was scant comfort for a Bournemouth staff whose hopes of European soccer are actually over.
Manchester Metropolis v Bournemouth
Metropolis began brightly as Kovacic slipped whereas firing huge from lengthy vary and Matheus Nunes had the ball smothered by Kepa Arrizabalaga earlier than he may pull the set off.
But there was no person to stop Marmoush from letting fly with a shot that viciously dipped in the direction of the top-left nook and flew in off the publish.
The woodwork was Metropolis’s good friend because it helped that excellent effort on its manner, however De Bruyne was cursing his luck when he in some way hit the underside of the bar from point-blank vary with the aim gaping from Marmoush’s pull again.
Fortune smiled on Metropolis, nevertheless, as Evanilson struck the publish on the different finish after glorious build-up involving Actual Madrid-bound Dean Huijsen and Marcus Tavernier, and Bournemouth got a mountain to climb quickly after.
The Cherries’ failure to clear their strains was punished ruthlessly as Ilkay Gundogan recovered from a poor contact to steer the ball into the trail of Bernardo to slip house a second.
Kepa then wanted to provide an instinctive response save to maintain out Gundogan’s deflected long-range effort shortly earlier than half-time.
Metropolis have been in cruise management within the second half, although they appeared to have given Bournemouth hope when Kovacic was despatched off for flattening Evanilson as he seemed to surge onto a stray move and undergo on aim.
That dismissal prompted a reshuffle from Pep Guardiola that concerned the substitution of De Bruyne to a rapturous standing ovation, however Bournemouth’s personnel benefit evaporated as Cook dinner noticed pink.
Cook dinner acquired a few of the ball in his problem with Gonzalez, however a comply with by way of excessive on the substitute’s shin left Thomas Bramall with no alternative however to present him his marching orders.
That ended any considered a comeback and, after Rodri changed Haaland for his first look in nearly eight months to raucous approval, Gonzalez bent brilliantly past Kepa.
Jebbison pounced on a defensive mistake to make it extra flattering for Bournemouth with nearly the final kick on an evening on which their efforts to spoil De Bruyne’s get together proved feeble.
