Bournemouth achieved a convincing 3-1 victory over south coast rivals Southampton at the Vitality Stadium, marking their first home league win of the season.
In a match where Bournemouth quickly took control, Evanilson opened the scoring with a volley following a clever free-kick routine. Dango Ouattara then doubled the lead with a close-range finish after a shot from Lewis Cook. Antoine Semenyo added a third goal before halftime, driving a powerful shot into the corner to give the Cherries a commanding lead.
Despite their struggles, Southampton fought back in the second half. They made three substitutions at the break, bringing on Joe Aribo, Ross Stewart, and Ben Brereton Diaz. Their efforts paid off just five minutes after the restart when Taylor Harwood-Bellis scored with a header from a Fabrice Fernandes cross.
Though Southampton created additional chances, including a near miss from Stewart, Bournemouth managed to maintain their advantage. Evanilson missed an opportunity to score again, shooting straight at goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.
Late on, Bournemouth’s Ryan Christie and Luis Sinisterra also tested Ramsdale, but the score remained 3-1.
Martin: Disappointment with First Half
Southampton manager Russell Martin expressed his frustration over his team’s first-half performance, stating, “I didn’t recognize our team. There was a lack of aggression and intensity, and we seemed to be in self-preservation mode.”
He added, “The second half showed fight, but it was too late. I need to ensure the players have the tools to respond better to setbacks.”
Semenyo Highlights Team Strategy
Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo, who has contributed to 10 goals in the last 20 Premier League appearances, praised his team’s preparation. “We knew we could catch them out with quick free-kicks based on our analysis,” he said, referring to the buildup to Evanilson’s opener.
Semenyo also spoke about his versatility as a player, saying, “I’ve practiced my ability to use both feet all my life, and I feel fortunate to play effectively with both.”
With this victory, Bournemouth now sits in a more favorable position in the league as they aim to build on this performance in future matches.
Credit: Sky Sports
