Kevin de Bruyne scores clever free-kick (Video)

Kevin de Bruyne gives Manchester City the lead against Bournemouth with a low free-kick.

Manchester City have started very well against Bournemouth at home. Kevin de Bruyne, their man of the match against Manchester United last week, had a good shot saved within the first minute, and the Citizens continued to dominate from there.

Bournemouth were defending well enough in two banks of four, but a Jack Wilshere foul around 20 yards out gave City, and de Bruyne, the opening they needed. Instead of trying to get his fee-kick up and over the wall, de Bruyne went low, and beat Bournemouth keeper Artur Boruc at his near post.

It was a clever free-kick, and will force Bournemouth to leave their defensive shape to pursue an equalizer. That will only play into City’s hand. If the Cherries had any chance in this one, they surely would have had to hold on for longer than 15 minutes.

The foul was conceded by Bournemouth’s new signing, Jack Wilshere, who has struggled through the opening of the game. He completed only one pass in the first 20 minutes.

City added to their lead 10 minutes later, when Kelechi Iheanacho completed a fluid counter-attacking move. De Bruyne was involved again, playing Raheem Sterling into space, who squared the ball to Iheanacho for a simple finish.

City are the early front-runners in the Premier League this season, having won all four of their games so far. Their best win came in the Manchester derby last week, when they defeated rivals United 2-1 at Old Trafford.

Bournemouth, meanwhile, have struggled at the start of the season. They beat West Brom last week for their first win of the new campaign, but have otherwise struggled. Manager Eddie Howe impressed in his first season in the Premier League last year, but it looks like his side could get drawn into the relegation battle as this season progresses.