2 weeks Ago
A first half goal from in-form Ghanaian Antoine Semenyo gave AFC a 1-0 lead after just nine minutes, with the hosts heading into the interval with a deserved lead. The advantage was doubled by Evanilson shortly after the hour mark, with both goals set up by the brilliant Milos Kerkez. The Daily Echo rates the players in their historic victory.
The Irishman looked solid and assured in the Cherries net. He didn’t have much to do for most of the ninety, with City only registering their first shot on target in the final ten minutes. Couldn’t do much with the City goal, Gvardiol’s header was right in the top corner.
His distribution was excellent throughout the game from the back, and Travers made some crucial saves from Jeremy Doku and Erling Haaland late on to preserve Bournemouth’s lead. My man-of-the-match. Kerkez was excellent at both ends, providing two assists for both goals.
For the first, he did very well to get around Phil Foden and get to the byline, pulling it back for Antoine Semenyo to finish. His cross for the second goal was fantastic and right on the money for Evanilson to score. At the other end, Kerkez didn’t do too much wrong.
He made a crucial first half block from a Bernardo Silva shot to keep it at 1-0. Outjumped by Gvardiol for the City goal. The Argentine did very well to keep a striker of Erling Haaland’s stature quiet.
Imperious in the air and strong on the ground. His distribution was also good – a long ball from Senesi set up a good chance for Semenyo and Evanilson inside the first minute of the second period. As above.
Both Senesi and Zabarnyi were on fine form and they are becoming one of the finest centre-back pairings in the league. The Ukrainian had a number of tussles with Haaland along with his partner, doing well to outmuscle the Norwegian on occasion and preventing him from having any openings to pounce on. Smith kept the City left quiet for much of the 90 but did struggle a little with the pace and power of Jeremy Doku at the end as he came inside the final ten minutes against tired legs, with Doku having a couple of half chances and being a handful.
That being said, he was excellent for most of the game and led the team from the front defensively. At the other end, Smith missed a golden opportunity to extend the Cherries’ lead to three after Marcus Tavernier struck the post shortly after Evanilson’s goal. The Scot helped pull the strings for the Cherries from midfield, alongside Lewis Cook.
The pair were excellent in controlling the game at both ends of the pitch – leading and marshalling the Bournemouth press from the centre of the park. He was booked after six minutes and was replaced by Tyler Adams after 66 minutes. Marshalled the midfield magnificently.
Cook has become one of the most in-form central midfielders in the league so far this season and showed exactly why against world-class opposition in City. A leader in the centre of the park, he has rightly been the centre of calls to see him named in the England squad. If he keeps putting in assured performances like this, it would become hard to ignore for the national team.
Tavernier looked bright throughout the afternoon, and was positive in bringing the ball into attack from around the halfway line. So nearly added a third for the Cherries shortly after Evanilson’s goal, striking the post with a wonderful effort from the outside of the box after cutting inside. Replaced in the 90th minute by Dean Huijsen as Andoni Iraola looked to bolster the defence for the final moments.
Another good performance from a Cherries attacker, combining well with Tavernier, Semenyo and Evanilson. Possibly should have scored in the opening minutes as he looked to side-foot home after Ederson saved from Semenyo, but the Brazilian did well to get across to keep his effort out. Replaced by David Brooks after 77 minutes.
What can you say about Semenyo? He has been one of the best players in the league so far this season and proved yet again why. The Ghanaian looked a threat every time he picked the ball up and was also a force in helping out his defence at times. His goal was brilliantly taken, stopping the ball dead with his first touch and pivoting to fire low and hard into the back of the net.
That takes him to four goals for the season so far. The striker seems to be settling in very well on the south coast, adding his third goal in Cherries colours after joining from Porto in the summer. Finished brilliantly from an excellent Kerkez cross, a really striker’s finish at full stretch to prod past his countryman in the City net.
Looked a threat to the Citizens’ backline throughout with his pace, and leads the Bournemouth press well from centre forward. Replaced by Enes Unal with 13 minutes left..
