Bournemouth snapped a six-match Premier League winless run as Antoine Semenyo’s first-minute goal paved the way to a 1-0 win over Fulham at the Vitality Stadium on Monday.
WATCH –- Bournemouth vs Fulham full match replay
Andoni Iraola’s Cherries join Fulham on 48 points, climbing into eighth place via superior goal differential and putting a serious dent in the visitors’ hopes of sneaking into a top-five place.
Bournemouth, Brighton, and 10th-place Brighton each have 48 points, and there’s going to be a serious tussle for European positioning the rest of the way.
Complete effort from Cherries carries bittersweet taste
Andoni Iraola’s team is one of the best-performing units in the Premier League, and that’s what made their six-match winless run so frustrating as Bournemouth were and remain one of several teams trying to feast on the wide-open European qualification picture. Iraola removed a struggling Marcos Senesi at halftime but virtually every other player on the pitch shone as Bournemouth fought for a second goal before battening down the hatches in the second half. Kepa Arrizabalaga made seven saves — two of them special, while Evanilson fought through a painful-looking shoulder injury, Dango Ouattara ran his shorts off in leading field players in recoveries (7), and young star center back Dean Huijsen piled up 12 clearances. It’ll be a shame if Bournemouth miss out on Europe next season.
Bournemouth vs Fulham player ratings
(from fotmob.com)
Bournemouth vs Fulham player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Bournemouth vs Fulham player ratings (from fotmob.com)
What’s next?
Bournemouth go to Crystal Palace at 10am ET Saturday, where they’ll catch the Eagles coming off a midweek match versus Newcastle United.
Fulham will host Chelsea at 9am Sunday, three days after the Blues stage the second leg of a Conference League semifinal.
How to watch Bournemouth vs Fulham live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 3pm ET Monday
Venue: Vitality Stadium — Bournemouth
TV Channel: USA
Streaming: Watch live on NBC.com
Bournemouth vs Fulham final score: 1-0
Antoine Semenyo 1'
Bournemouth vs Fulham live updates
Full time — Bournemouth 1-0 Fulham
It promised a lot early, but Bournemouth slammed the door shut in the second half.
The Cherries sacrificed possession in the second 45, giving Fulham nearly 70% of the ball, but only allowed 0.23 xG toward Arrizabalaga’s goal.
Kepa keeps the sheet clean
Alex Iwobi puts Adams on skates and cues up a wicked rip toward the upper 90.
Arrizabalaga flies to his right and pushes the ball away from danger.
Tyler Adams denied
USMNT midfielder Tyler Adams gets the ball atop the 18 and works an exchange with Semenyo, stabbing the return toward the near post.
Leno keeps his leg strong to limit the damage to a corner.
Still 1-0 to Bournemouth in the 58th minute as Muniz, Sessegnon, and Berge exit for Raul Jimenez, Adama Traore, and Sander Berge.
Bournemouth sub
Illia Zabarnyi replaces Marcos Senesi at the break as the Cherries look to solidify their bid for three points.
Halftime — Bournemouth 1-0 Fulham
Either side could be in front, but it’s the first-minute chance that was the difference in this one.
All told, it’s fair that the Cherries are ahead and they’ll like their chance of scoring again to make the second half a more comfortable period.
Chances at both ends
Rodrigo Muniz drives into the right side of Bournemouth’s box and drags a shot wide of the goal.
The Cherries go back the other way down Fulham’s right side, and Semenyo gets the better of Antonee Robinson only to see a Dango Ouattara shot blocked at the back post.
Still 1-0 Bournemouth in the 33rd minute.
So close to 2-0!
Evanilson’s sliding bid to finish a cross pummels the underside of the cross bar and bounds away from goal in the 17th minute.
The Vitality remains at full throat.
Antoine Semenyo goal! Bournemouth 1-0 Fulham (1st minute)
What a start at the Vitality Stadium.
Alex Scott drives 40 or 50 yards with the ball and gets away a pass while sustaining contact from Fulham.
Antoine Semenyo has plenty of work to do and cuts in from the left to drive a low shot past the diving Bernd Leno.
Okay then.
Bournemouth lineup
Arrizabalaga, Kerkez, Cook, Huijsen, Senesi, Scott, Adams, Smith, Semenyo, Ouattara, Evanilson
Fulham lineup
Leno, Castagne, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson, Berge, Lukic, Sessegnon, Pereira, Iwobi, Muniz
Bournemouth vs Fulham preview
The Cherries haven’t won in six Premier League matches, with four losses and just a pair of away London draws with Spurs and West Ham.
That skid has seen Bournemouth fall to 10th on the Premier League table, nine points off seventh-place Aston Villa. Tenth could still be enough to put a team in Europe, but Andoni Iraola’s Cherries are far from their season goals.
Fulham are clear of Bournemouth by three points, and their eighth-place position has them within reach of the top-seven. The Cottagers would be even better off had they been able to post consecutive wins in their last six games, a 3W-3L run. Now a win at Bournemouth would be a perfect way to break that pattern.
Bournemouth team news, focus
OUT: Ryan Christie (groin), Enes Unal (knee) | QUESTIONABLE: Justin Kluivert (undisclosed), Luis Sinisterra (hamstring), Marcus Tavernier (ankle)
Fulham team news, focus
OUT: Reiss Nelson (hamstring) | QUESTIONABLE: Harry Wilson (foot)
Bournemouth vs Fulham prediction
The status of Bournemouth’s injury list come kickoff would be useful in making a prediction here, as Fulham’s healthy and in better form, too. There are so many potential goalscorers, and the only comfortable prediction is goals. Bournemouth 1-1 Fulham.
