AFC Bournemouth made history on Tuesday, drawing 1-1 with Manchester City to secure European qualification for the first time in the club’s history.
The triumph was an appropriate finish to head coach Andoni Iraola’s final home game, as he received a standing ovation at full-time before being succeeded by Marco Rose in the summer.
The Cherries are guaranteed a top-seven finish after an incredible 17th league game without defeat, and they are still in contention for Champions League football ahead of Sunday’s season finale against Nottingham Forest.
The tie also gave Arsenal the Premier League trophy, which was their first title in 22 years.
Before kickoff, Bournemouth’s stadium announcer attempted to energize the home crowd by mentioning that their neighbors, Southampton, had been booted from the Championship play-offs for spying.
Junior Kroupi brought the house down with a fantastic 39th-minute goal.
Following Adrien Truffert’s release by Marcus Tavernier, the 19-year-old forward Kroupi curled a beautiful shot into the right corner and celebrated becoming the outright highest scoring teenager in a debut Premier League season by somersaulting.
Within a minute of the restart, City was practically leveled when Cherries goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic made a crucial save to deny Nico O’Reilly.
Evanilson then challenged visiting goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma before Guardiola tried to spark a comeback by bringing on Phil Foden, Savinho, and Rayan Cherki in an offensive triple substitution.
Rayan, a Bournemouth youngster who was included in Brazil’s World Cup squad on Monday, hit the outside of the left post after a corner as the game remained tight going into the final quarter.
Substitute David Brooks missed two great late chances to secure the victory, including hitting the right post.
Those misses were punished in the fifth minute of stoppage time when Erling Haaland swept home from the right post after Rodri had hit the left upright in a goalmouth scramble.
Despite the goal, home supporters cheered loudly at the final whistle, celebrating a memorable occasion for Bournemouth.
