Bournemouth finished a six-game unwinning Reglan with a 1-0 home victory over Fulham as Antoine Semegno’s goal within the opening minute rekindled European qualification hopes.
Semenyo took advantage of Anthony Robinson’s mistake, with a low finish in the bottom corner, with an arrow arrow at the bottom corner just 53 seconds later at Vitality Stadium.
When Bournemouth jumped up and down eighth by goal difference, it proved to be a difference between the two aspects of chasing Europe.
Player rating:
Bournemouth: Kepa (7); Smith (7), Senesi (6), Huijsen (8), Kerkez (7); Adams (7), Cook (7); Ouattara (7), Scott (7); Semenyo (8); Evanilsson (6).
Submarines: Zabarnyi (6), Tavernier (6), Soler (N/A).
Fulham: Reno (7); Castagne (6), Andersen (6), Bassey (6), Robinson (5); Berge (6), Lukic (6); Sessegnon (6), Pereira (6), Iwobi (6); Muniz (6).
Submarines: Traore (6), Jimenez (6), Cairney (6), Smith Rowe (6), Willian (N/A).
Player in the match: Dean Huizen.
After the victory, Matchweiner’s Semeño revealed that Cherries boss Andoni Iraora had billed the game as the “make-or-break” of the season.
The 25-year-old told Sky Sports:
“We went into the game because we wanted to give it everything, and at the end of the celebration we could see that it made a lot of sense.
Bournemouth’s Lightning Quick Start was nearly rewarded with two goals as Evanilson hit the bar from close range in the 17th minute. It was the 21st time the South Coast side has attacked woodworkers in the Premier League this season.
Another first goal of the season…
The opening goal of the game in 53 seconds was ninth in the opening minutes of the 2024-25 Premier League season, with 2022-23 seeing even more (10).
However, Fulham missed two brilliant opportunities to be equal before halftime. First, Rodrigo Muniz dragged the shot in the 31 minutes after defensive turmoil between Bournemouth centre backs Dean Huizen and Marcos Senesi.
Just six minutes later, unmarked Ryan Sesegnon headed straight to Bournemouth goalkeeper Kepa Alizabaraga.
Marco Silva’s team kept pushing the equalizer in the second half, and Fulham’s head coach’s frustration increased after confusion over a triple replacement that Sesegnon accidentally took off.
Silva wanted to pull left back Robinson off Sky Sports after the match, and accused him of mistakenly departing for Adamatraore for “lack of communication” between the fourth official and his staff.
Cherry then overcomes Fulham’s pressure and earned his first victory in nine matches in all competitions, returning to European contests, with the highest Premier League points tallyed with 48 points.
Team News
Bournemouth made one change from the West Ham draw as Marcos Senesi replaced Ilia Zabarni, who was benched at centre back, but key player Justin Kruibert continued to suffer injuries. Fulham hadn’t changed since last weekend’s 3-2 home victory over Premier League leader Liverpool.
Iraola: Victory comes in the “perfect moment”
Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraora talks to Sky Sports:
“I’m very pleased with the performance. I think I need this performance. Clearances, blocks, basics and sets play to protect my box well.
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Semeño gives Bournemouth the lead
“It’s invaluable to finish with a clean sheet, because if you usually get your target offensively, you could be scoring defensively in places where something is missing in recent games, and today was very defensive.
“This victory comes at a perfect moment. Next week we have another game of these games with Crystal Palace Away Away Away next week.
“All outcomes will be important, and the rankings have been very close in the last few months.
“We don’t think we have an easy schedule, so we have to be very good.”
Silva: It took the first 25 minutes
Fulham head coach Marco Silva speaks to Sky Sports:
“In the first minute we acknowledged our really sloppy goals, but we had over 95 minutes to play and change things.
“In the first few minutes, I knew it was important to make simple and right decisions. A simple decision. The first 25 minutes showed that we weren’t on the level. You need to reach the same intensity as the other side.
“The reaction afterwards was good and we had a chance to equalize, and we controlled the game in the second half and pushed them back.
“I dumped everything in the first 25 minutes.”
