Bournemouth staged a late comeback to stun Fulham 3-1 on Friday and surge into second place in the Premier League ahead of the international break.
On a stormy and rain-soaked night on the South Coast, Fulham looked to be on their way to a first away win of the season when Ryan Sessegnon struck in the 70th minute.
But Antoine Semenyo had other ideas as he glided past the Fulham defence and slotted through Bernd Leno’s legs to bring the game level just eight minutes later.
With the momentum shifting their way, Justin Kluivert then shot the Cherries into the lead with a stunning goal from distance into the top-right of the Fulham goal.
Semenyo wrapped up proceedings in stoppage time, finishing off a late counter attack started by Ben Gannon-Doak to send the Cottagers home soaked and empty-handed.
The result moves Bournemouth to within a point of leaders Liverpool and extends their unbeaten run to six games since an early-season loss to the Reds.
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Semenyo dazzles again
Semenyo’s electric start to the season shows no signs of slowing down.
With two goals and an assist on the night, the Ghanaian now has six goals and three assists in the league this season.
This season, he’s made the leap from promising winger to a player on the brink of world-class status.
Since May, no Premier League player has been involved in more goals – registering 12 contributions (eight goals and four assists) in that time.
If he maintains this form, Europe’s elite will be more than happy to test the Cherries’ resolve in next summer’s transfer window.
Kluivert was full of praise for Semenyo, hailing his teammate as world-class after the game.
“He is incredible, he shows it every game now,” he said.
“He is just world-class. We are glad to have him and that is why I said we have a good team. He is the one that scores goals for us and we appreciate that. He’s doing an amazing job.”
Iraola’s underrated efforts
Despite having their ranks raided by Europe’s upper echelons, Bournemouth have refused to take a backward step.
Manager Andoni Iraola has quietly built one of the most intense and intelligent pressing sides in the league.
After a rocky start to life on the south coast – with early form flirting with relegation – Iraola has since guided Bournemouth to 12th and then 9th-place finishes. Now, they’re genuine contenders for Europe.
Their performances are a testament to a manager who has quietly transformed the Cherries into one of the league’s most fearsome sides.
Bournemouth currently lead the Premier League in duels won, ball recoveries, and PPDA (passes per defensive action) – a measure of pressing intensity – with a league-best 9.6.
New signings Adrien Truffert and Marco Senesi have seamlessly slotted into Iraola’s side, replacing the likes of Milos Kerkez and Dean Huijsen without missing a beat.
Iraola has built a team that plays attractive, intense football while cleverly masking his players’ vulnerabilities.
If Bournemouth’s current trajectory continues, the Spaniard could find himself linked with some of Europe’s biggest managerial positions before long.
Fulham hampered by injury crisis
Despite their best efforts, Fulham’s evening unravelled after they took the lead.
With Rodrigo Muniz and Raul Jimenez both sidelined, Marco Silva was forced to deploy 18-year-old midfielder starlet Josh King as a false nine.
In a gamble that didn’t pay off, Silva was dejected following a series of individual errors that saw his side’s hard-fought lead extinguished.
“It was tough to lose the way we lost it. We scored a great collective goal and the game was completely under control, “ he said.
“Until they equalised, they had zero chances… And then two individual moments from two Bournemouth players decided the game.”
The result leaves Fulham 11th in the table and still searching for their first away win of the campaign.
After competing for European qualification last season, the Cottagers have yet to build on that progress.
Despite adding Brazilian prospect Kevin and former Milan stalwart Samuel Chukwueze to their ranks, Fulham’s aging squad has largely flown under the radar, raising questions about how much success can realistically be expected from them this season.
Fulham may not be in immediate danger of relegation, but fans will undoubtedly expect more from a team that showed real promise last season.
Even if Silva can’t guide his side to Europe this season, almost nothing will be as miserable as defeat on a cold, stormy night in Dorset.
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