Bournemouth secured their second Premier League win of the season as they cruised to a 3-1 home victory over south coast rivals Southampton.
First-half goals from Evanilson, Dango Ouattara and Antoine Semenyo put Bournemouth in complete control after 45 minutes at the Vitality Stadium, with Saints managing to pull a goal back through Taylor Harwood-Bellis in the second half.
The win lifts Bournemouth up to 11th, with newly-promoted Southampton languishing in 19th position and still searching for their first league victory this season.
Southampton threatened early on with Maxwel Cornet’s effort deflecting wide, before Kepa Arrizabalaga got down well to save from former Bournemouth winger Ryan Fraser.
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Southampton are caught off guard with a quick free-kick as Evanilson nets the first goal for Bournemouth
But Bournemouth took the lead with their first clear-cut opening, from a quickly-taken free-kick after Flynn Downes had brought down Semenyo on the left side of Southampton’s half. As the ball went dead, Marcus Tavernier dinked a ball over the top for Evanilson to latch on to and hook a volley past Aaron Ramsdale.
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Semenyo’s brilliant set-up is met by Lewis Cook who curls the ball towards Aaron Ramsdale before Dango Ouattara gets the final touch
Bournemouth scored their second just after the half-hour mark. Tavernier was again involved in the build-up, passing to Semenyo who shifted the ball inside for Lewis Cook to shoot, with Ouattara getting the vital touch to nick the ball past Ramsdale from close range.
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Semenyo scored a ‘sensational’ third goal for Bournemouth
The Cherries did not have to wait long for a third as Semenyo wriggled clear of Southampton’s defence on the left edge of the area before rifling home right-footed across Ramsdale and into the corner.
Southampton responded by making a triple substitution at the interval, with Joe Aribo, Ross Stewart and Ben Brereton Diaz coming on for Lesley Ugochukwu, Fraser and Cornet.
The changes had an instant impact with Saints needing less than five minutes to pull a goal back, Harwood-Bellis adjusting well to stoop down and head in from Fabrice Fernandes’ cross for his first Premier League goal.
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Taylor Harwood-Bellis pulls a goal back for Southampton against Bournemouth with a low header
Stewart headed over the bar before fellow substitute Brereton Diaz flashed an effort wide, while at the other end Evanilson wasted a chance to double his tally after being played through when he shot straight at Ramsdale.
Ryan Christie then flashed wide, before Luis Sinisterra missed an opportunity to add a fourth for Bournemouth when his shot was saved by Ramsdale in added time.
More to follow…