City trailed until the 84th minute before mounting a late rally that mirrored the dramatic finishes the club became known for under Pep Guardiola. Maresca, who succeeded the Catalan this summer, watched his side rescue three points with two set-piece goals in the closing stages.
Late Turnaround Rescues the Opener
Marc Guehi sparked the comeback with an 84th-minute header from a corner, leveling a match that Bournemouth had controlled for long stretches. The equalizer shifted the momentum firmly toward the hosts, who pushed forward in search of a winner.
Josko Gvardiol delivered it in the first minute of stoppage time, placing a finish into the bottom corner. The goal was initially flagged for offside before a video review overturned the decision and awarded the strike, sending the home crowd into celebration.
Maresca Calls It a Perfect Day
For Maresca, the occasion delivered everything he could have hoped for. A warm welcome from supporters at kickoff. A stoppage-time winner at the death. Three points on the board.
“Perfect day,” the Italian said afterward, summing up a debut that combined atmosphere, drama, and result in a single afternoon.
What Happens Next
Manchester City fans will hope the late rally signals that the winning mentality cultivated during the Guardiola era has survived the managerial transition. Maresca faces tougher tests ahead, but opening with three points — especially rescued from a losing position — buys him goodwill and time. Bournemouth, meanwhile, will rue conceding twice from set pieces in the final ten minutes, a defensive lapse that turned a deserved point into nothing. Watch whether City can carry this late-game resilience into their next fixture, and whether Maresca tightens a defense that looked vulnerable for long stretches before the comeback.
— James Okafor, sports desk, AXO News