BOURNEMOUTH’S European venture is back on track thanks to Antoine Semenyo.
The Ghana star lifted the Cherries above Fulham in the race for a Europa Conference place with a sparkling winner after 53 seconds!
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Semenyo’s eighth goal of the campaign sent the Cherries into eighth spot on goal-difference and ended a seven-game winless run.
The Cottagers left Dorset cursing the fact that they dominated most of the play but left their shooting boots back at the Cottage.
This was not only a battle for Europe but a contest between two managers being linked with Tottenham should Ange Postecoglou lose his job.
Cherries’ Spanish gaffer Andoni Iraola and Fulham’s Portuguese chief Marco Silva have both caught the eye this season.
Bournemouth made one change from the side that drew 2-2 with West Ham last time out.
And it was a bit of a shock move too by boss Iraola, dropping Ukraine defender Illia Zabarnyi to the bench for the first time for Marcos Senesi.
Nor surprisingly Fulham arrived on the South Coast unchanged from the team that beat champions elect Liverpool 3-2 in London.
But any delusions of grandeur they may have had in seeing off the Reds was quickly quashed at the Vitality Stadium.
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For it took Semenyo just 53 seconds to jink his way into the Fulham box and score only his fourth Premier League goal in 21 matches.
Alex Scott set it up with a strong run and when he found his team-mate the Ghana striker moved inside Joachim Andersen and tucked the ball into the far corner.
The forward had told yesterday’s Sun Sport that he wasn’t fussed by his lack of goals and had the belief he would get back on the score sheet.
But no-one expected he would find the net so quicky in the league for the first time since the Cherries trounced Nottingham Forest 5-0 in January.
And it should have been 2-0 after only 17 minutes when Evanilson hit the underside of the bar from barely four yards out.
Milos Kerkez’s excellent cross was played back by Scott only for the Brazilian to smack the woodwork with his half-volley.
Hesitation between Senesi and Dean Huijsen opened up an opportunity for Rodrigo Muniz but the Fulham striker shot wide when clean through.
This inspired the visitors who saw Muniz and Ryan Sessegnon test Cherries goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga with firm headers.
Yet Scott came so close to netting in first half stoppage time when his solo effort was pushed around the post by Fulham stopper Bernd Leno.
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Zabarnyi’s exile on the touchline ended on 45 minutes when he was brought on for the struggling Senesi after the break.
Within 10 minutes Fulham were grateful for Leno’s outstretched foot which denied Tyler Adams a second Cherries goal.
A desperate Silva made a triple substitution on the hour although Sessegnon wasn’t happy being replaced by Adama Traore.
And it took a brilliant diving save from Kepa to deny Alex Iwobi an equaliser minutes after the changes.
Then sub Tom Cairney set-up up a shooting chance for Sasa Lukic who lifted his shot weakly straight at Kepa.
Kepa was being labelled “a Chelsea reject” by the visiting fans but their taunts were music to the Spaniard’s ears especially when he was named man-of-the-match!
At the other end Leno looked to have conceded a penalty nine minutes from time when he took out Evanilson.
But VAR came to his rescue when they decided he had just managed to punch the ball clear before clattering into the Brazilian.
