Bournemouth vs Leicester Report

Scorers: Semenyo 74’, 88’

Bournemouth secured a top-half Premier League finish for just the second time in their history by beating already-relegated Leicester City 2-0 at the Vitality Stadium. Antoine Semenyo’s second-half brace ensured the Cherries equalled their best-ever PL finish (9th), while also preserving their unbeaten home top-flight record against the Foxes.

First Half – Cherries Dominant But Wasteful

Despite having nothing to play for in terms of European qualification, Bournemouth showed early purpose as they sought to end their campaign on a high. Evanilson had the first big chance of the game when he burst through on goal but dragged his shot wide of the far post. David Brooks soon tested Jakub Stolarczyk with a bouncing volley that required a sharp save to keep the scores level.

Leicester, who had managed only one win in their previous 14 league outings, offered a rare scare when Oliver Skipp had the ball in the net, but the effort was rightly ruled out for offside. Bournemouth responded well, with Brooks again drawing a stop from Stolarczyk following a smart layoff from Justin Kluivert, while Evanilson struck the post from the rebound in a frustrating end to the first half for the hosts.

Second Half – Semenyo the Difference

Andoni Iraola introduced Daniel Jebbison after the break, and the substitute thought he had made an immediate impact just after the hour. However, VAR ruled the ball had drifted out of play before Evanilson’s deflected cross reached him, and the goal was disallowed.

The Cherries’ breakthrough finally came in the 74th minute. A clever short-corner routine saw Illya Zabarnyi head the ball down for Semenyo, who clipped a composed finish into the bottom corner to give the home side a deserved lead.

The Ghanaian wasn’t done there. With Leicester pushing bodies forward in search of an equaliser, Semenyo put the game to bed five minutes from time with a driven strike from the edge of the area. It was his 10th league goal of the season and confirmed Bournemouth’s dominance.

Conclusion – Bournemouth Finish Strong, Leicester Falter Again

Bournemouth’s victory capped off a record-breaking season, finishing ninth and surpassing their previous highest Premier League points tally. It was a reward for Iraola’s steady guidance in a campaign that showed genuine progress.

In contrast, Leicester’s miserable return to the top flight concluded with a 13th away defeat and the dubious honour of being the only side not to keep an away clean sheet this season. The Foxes will now regroup for life back in the Championship under Ruud van Nistelrooy.

For more info on this game’s outcome, you may also visit:
Bournemouth v Leicester, 2024/25 | Premier League