Everton suffered a dramatic collapse, conceding three late goals as Bournemouth turned around a 2-0 deficit to win 3-2 in a thrilling Premier League match.
Sean Dyche’s side appeared to be on course for their first victory of the season after second-half goals from Michael Keane and Dominic Calvert-Lewin put them ahead. However, Bournemouth struck back in the 87th minute when Antoine Semenyo ignited the comeback, exploiting Everton’s shaky defense.
The game was tied two minutes into stoppage time when Lewis Cook headed in his first Premier League goal on his 137th appearance, sending the visitors’ fans into a frenzy. Further disappointment followed for Everton as goalkeeper Jordan Pickford made saves from both Marcus Tavernier and Semenyo, but Dango Ouattara was in the right place to nod in Justin Kluivert’s cross, sealing the win for Bournemouth.
After previous defeats to Brighton and Tottenham, which saw them concede seven goals, Everton had shown improvements throughout this match, dominating for significant periods. Yet, their inability to manage the game effectively resulted in audible boos from the Goodison Park crowd at the final whistle. This match marked the latest instance in Premier League history where a team that was two goals ahead ended up losing.
Dyche: “We Threw the Game Away”
Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, Dyche expressed his frustration: “They had one shot on target before their goal, and we threw the game away. We simply needed to execute the basics—win tackles, win headers, and see the game through. Our body language said it all.”
He continued, “We played really well, but you have to manage the game for every minute in the Premier League. These anomalies can happen.”
Dawson Questions Aftermath
Michael Dawson, speaking on Soccer Saturday, noted how shocking Everton’s collapse was: “They were in cruise control and looked a different team in the second half. The way they conceded three goals from crosses isn’t typical of Everton or Sean Dyche. At 2-1, they kept pushing for a third, thinking they’d secured the win, but they were far from it.”
Opta Stats: The Comeback of All Combacks
- This marked only the second time Bournemouth won a Premier League away game after being two or more goals down (W2 L55), with their previous instance being a 3-2 win at Nottingham Forest in September 2022.
- Bournemouth scored two goals in second-half stoppage time for the first time in a Premier League match.
- Everton lost a Premier League match in which they led by two or more goals for the first time since March 2019 (2-3 vs. Newcastle), having gone unbeaten in 29 such matches prior (W28 D1).
- Calvert-Lewin recorded a goal and an assist in a Premier League game for the first time since February 2020 against Crystal Palace.
- Semenyo has either scored (2 goals) or assisted (1 goal) in all three of Bournemouth’s Premier League games this season, marking his first involvement in goals in three consecutive appearances in the competition.
Credit: Sky Sports
