Ghanaian forward Antoine Semenyo and Burkinabe Dango Ouattara were both on target at the Vitality Stadium as Bournemouth secured a 3-1 win over newcomers Southampton in the Premier League on Monday.
The two African forwards scored in the first half to add to club record signing Evanilson’s first strike for the club as the Cherries retuned to winning ways after losing their last two matches to Chelsea and Liverpool, respectively.
Bournemouth secure the win over their South Coast neighbours 🍒#BOUSOU pic.twitter.com/UxPwgcEiHR
— Premier League (@premierleague) September 30, 2024
Evanilson opened his Bournemouth account in the 17th minute with the Brazilian volleying in Marcus Tavernier’s quickly taken freekick past goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.
The hosts made it two to the goods 15 minutes later as Ouattara scored his first goal of the season. The Burkina Faso international inadvertently turned into a low strike from English midfielder Lewis Cook to compound Southampton’s woes.
Semenyo compounded the visitor’s problems in the 39th minute with a brilliant strike from inside the box for his third league goal of the season. After receiving the ball from Cook, the Ghanaian still had some work to do as he cut inside onto his left foot before returning it to his right, beating Lesley Ugochukwu and firing low into the bottom corner.
Is Antoine Semenyo the most exciting player to watch in the @afcbournemouth squad? ✨#BOUSOU pic.twitter.com/kvbjowyygo
— Premier League (@premierleague) September 30, 2024
After the Cherries had run riot in the first half, the second half was a bit calmer for them as Southampton drew one back through defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis, whose header into the bottom corner beat goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Bournemouth held on for the win, their second in the Premier League this season as they moved into 11th place in the standings with eight points.
Meanwhile, for the Saints, who have just one point from their opening six games, it marked their joint-worst start to a league campaign in club history.
With just one point from six games, this is Southampton’s joint worst start to a league season in the club’s history.
Next up for Saints is a trip to Arsenal… pic.twitter.com/e7Gb4TkXlY
— Premier League (@premierleague) September 30, 2024
The Cherries will visit the King Power Stadium next, where they will take on Leicester City in one of Saturday’s tea-time fixtures, while Russell Martin’s Southampton are faced with an uphill task as they will visit the Emirates Stadium to take on Arsenal in a reunion for the goalie Ramsdale.
