Bournemouth vs Southampton Report
Scorers: Evanilson 17’, Ouattara 32’, Semenyo 39’; Harwood-Bellis 51’
Bournemouth earned their first home win of the campaign with a commanding 3-1 victory over Southampton at the Vitality Stadium. The win leaves Southampton still searching for their first Premier League win of the season (D1, L5).
Bournemouth’s Quick Start and Southampton’s First-Half Struggles
The Cherries came into the derby under pressure after back-to-back losses without scoring. However, they had not lost three consecutive games without finding the back of the net since the end of the 2022/23 season.
Determined to end that streak, Andoni Iraola’s side took the initiative from the outset, and it paid off within 17 minutes. Marcus Tavernier’s quick free-kick found Evanilson, who struck a sweet first-time finish across the goal and into the bottom corner, netting his first goal for Bournemouth after a six-match wait.
The early goal saw Southampton’s confidence take a hit, and Russell Martin’s side struggled to regain their composure.
Bournemouth doubled their advantage before the half-hour mark, thanks to Antoine Semenyo’s excellent wing play. Semenyo cut inside from the right and laid the ball off to Lewis Cook, whose first-time shot deflected off Dango Ouattara and nestled in the bottom corner.
The hosts continued to pile on the pressure, and before halftime, Semenyo added his name to the scoresheet, finishing a twisting run with a clinical shot to give Bournemouth a 3-0 lead and send the home fans into jubilation.
Southampton’s Second-Half Response and Bournemouth’s Continued Dominance
Despite a dismal first half, Southampton emerged from the break with renewed intent. They pulled one back early in the second half when Taylor Harwood-Bellis directed Yukinara Sugawara’s inswinging cross into the far corner.
However, defensive vulnerabilities persisted for the Saints, as Bournemouth continued to create chances. Evanilson nearly restored the Cherries’ three-goal advantage but was denied by a smart save from Aaron Ramsdale.
Bournemouth’s attacking threat increased again as the match neared its conclusion. Ryan Christie seized a loose ball on the edge of the penalty area and fired a volley narrowly wide of the post, keeping the pressure on Southampton.
Despite the miss, Bournemouth saw out the game comfortably, securing their second win of the season and leapfrogging Brentford and Manchester United in the table.
Key Moments
- Evanilson’s Opener (17′): Marcus Tavernier’s quick-thinking free-kick allows Evanilson to score his first goal for Bournemouth with a well-placed finish.
- Semenyo’s Play Sets Up Cook (28′): Antoine Semenyo’s skill on the wing leads to Lewis Cook’s deflected shot, doubling Bournemouth’s lead.
- Semenyo Scores (44′): Semenyo twists through Southampton’s defence to add a third goal just before halftime.
- Harwood-Bellis Pulls One Back (50′): Taylor Harwood-Bellis gives Southampton hope with a header from Sugawara’s cross.
Bournemouth’s Improvement and Southampton’s Struggles
The victory lifts Bournemouth to 14th place, providing a much-needed boost for Iraola’s side, who have now scored their first home goals of the season.
Meanwhile, Southampton remain winless in their return to the Premier League and find themselves in the relegation zone, having failed to secure an away win in their last 10 top-flight matches.
Conclusion
Bournemouth showed resilience and quality to earn their first home win of the season, sending a clear message to their South Coast rivals and potentially marking a turning point in their campaign.
Southampton, however, have plenty of work ahead to climb out of the relegation zone and find their first win on their return to the Premier League.
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