Sterling scores, sent off for sparking melee among City fans

BOURNEMOUTH, England— Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling was sent off for exuberantly celebrating a stoppage-time winner that led to fans spilling onto the pitch at Bournemouth on Saturday.

Sterling was shown a second yellow card of the game after celebrating scoring in the seventh minute of stoppage time among jubilant away fans to clinch a 2-1 victory in the English Premier League.

As City fans leapt on the field, City striker Sergio Aguero also exchanged words with a policeman and Benjamin Mendy was held back by other officers.

A Bournemouth steward claimed to have been assaulted by Aguero but the club said the police complaint was later withdrawn. It followed Aguero responding to video circulating on Twitter by posting: "About their steward, I did not hit anyone, this allegation is false, and the tv pictures prove it."

Police said two fans were arrested in the melee that led to Sterling seeing red and left City manager Pep Guardiola.

"If you cannot celebrate with the fans, the best solution is not to invite the fans," Guardiola said. "You can imagine how happy he is, how happy the fans are."

Bournemouth was left with nothing to show for a strong showing after City forward Gabriel Jesus initially canceled out a fine strike from Charlie Daniels.

Before Sterling's strike looped in off Andrew Surman on the south coast, it looked as though Guardiola was going to be left frustrated for the second time in a week following the home draw against Everton.

"It is absolute madness," City captain Vincent Kompany said. "Just like we had against Everton, the few chances we have, we maybe don't score them. Today we deserved to win but they made it incredibly hard for us."

Bournemouth has now opened the season with three losses, while City has seven points from nine.