Man City strengthen hold on fourth place

Citizens crush Bournemouth

Bournemouth, United Kingdom, April 2, (AFP): Kevin De Bruyne scored on his injury comeback as Manchester City warmed up for Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final against Paris SaintGermain by crushing Bournemouth 4-0 on Saturday.

Short of form and goals before this match, City roared back from the international break looking well rested and produced a dominant performance against a Bournemouth team who had no answer to their movement and craft.

Three goals in the opening 19 minutes, from Fernando, De Bruyne and Sergio Aguero, effectively won City the game and they could have had more before Aleksandar Kolarov scored a fourth in the final seconds.

The result, and West Ham United’s draw at home to Crystal Palace, strengthened City’s hold on fourth place in the Premier League table.

It keeps them on course to return to the Champions League next season, which Bournemouth’s English defender Simon Francis (left), vies with Manchester City’s Argentinian striker Sergio Aguero during the English Premier League football match between Bournemouth and Manchester City at the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth, southern

England on April 2. (AFP)

across goal.

Two minutes later, City were ahead. Jesus Navas’s right-wing corner was hit with a low trajectory that took the ball past attackers and defenders until it reached Fernando, who hooked it past goalkeeper Artur Boruc from 12 yards out.

In the 12th minute it was 2-0. Charlie Daniels, the Bournemouth left-back, was culpable when he tried to dribble out of defence, but once he had given the ball away, City’s quality took over.

Aguero flicked the ball over the back four to David Silva, who cushioned a layoff for De Bruyne to volley home.

The Belgian nearly made it 3-0 to City in the 17th minute, swerving a first-time shot inches over the crossbar after Silva had sent Gael Clichy scampering down the left to cross low.