Bournemouth End Winless Run in Dramatic Fashion Thanks to Semenyo

Antoine Semenyo scored a spectacular late winner to give Bournemouth a 3-2 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at Vitality Stadium, in what could be the forward’s final game for the Cherries. The Ghanaian winger is expected to complete a £65m move to Manchester City later this week.

With the score level at 2-2, Semenyo curled a sublime strike from outside the box past Spurs goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic in the 95th minute, ending Bournemouth’s 11-game winless streak in the Premier League. The dramatic goal also coincided with Semenyo’s 26th birthday, providing a storybook farewell for the attacker.

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Match Summary

Tottenham had the perfect start when Mathys Tel scored within the opening five minutes. The forward latched onto a clever backheel from Xavi Simons, drove into the box, and finished low past James Hill to make it 1-0.

However, Bournemouth responded quickly:

• Evanilson headed in Marcus Tavernier’s cross to equalise.
• Bournemouth then turned the game around in the 36th minute, when Tavernier’s cross found Marcos Senesi, who cut the ball back for Eli Junior Kroupi to score his seventh goal of the season.

Tottenham thought they might reclaim the lead in the second half. Richarlison saw a header hit the woodwork, and a potential penalty for Micky van de Ven was overturned by VAR after Hill’s contact was deemed insufficient.

The visitors finally equalised in the 78th minute when Senesi’s defensive header fell to Palhinha, who scored a stunning overhead kick.

But Semenyo ensured the last word in stoppage time, connecting with David Brooks’ pass and curling a magnificent shot past Petrovic, sending the Vitality Stadium into raptures.

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Semenyo: A Fairytale Farewell

Semenyo received a standing ovation as he was substituted moments after scoring, pausing to acknowledge the fans in what is likely his final appearance for Bournemouth. Since joining from Bristol City in 2023 for over £10m, Semenyo leaves the club with 32 goals and 13 assists in 110 appearances.

This season, he has already scored 10 goals, building on a 2024-25 campaign that saw him contribute 11 goals and six assists, cementing his rise as one of English football’s top attacking talents.

Manager Andoni Iraola praised Semenyo, calling him “one of the best players I’ve coached”, and his performance underscores why Manchester City are keen to add him to Pep Guardiola’s squad.

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Tottenham Analysis: More Pressure on Thomas Frank

Tottenham struggled to maintain consistency in their final third, registering just four shots on target from 16 attempts. Defensively, they were exposed on Bournemouth’s first-half goals, particularly Tavernier’s influence down the right.

Thomas Frank’s side appeared to gain a brief reprieve when Palhinha equalised, and Petrovic made a brilliant save from Van de Ven. However, the lack of cutting-edge finishing and squad depth highlighted ongoing issues under Frank, with Spurs fans becoming increasingly frustrated by the inconsistent performances.

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What’s Next?

• Bournemouth: FA Cup third-round tie at Newcastle on Saturday, 10 January (15:00 GMT), then a Premier League trip to Brighton on Monday, 19 January (20:00 GMT).
• Tottenham: FA Cup third-round home clash with Aston Villa on Saturday, 10 January (17:45 GMT), then return to league action against West Ham on Saturday, 17 January (15:00 GMT).

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Player of the Match

Bournemouth:

• Antoine Semenyo – 8.31
• A. Scott – 7.54
• Evanilson – 7.25
• J. Kroupi – 7.13

Tottenham:

• Djordje Petrovic – 6.53
• Mathys Tel – 7.25
• Palhinha – 7.13

Other notable contributions came from Marcos Senesi, David Brooks, and Eli Junior Kroupi, all instrumental in Bournemouth’s win.

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Summary:

Bournemouth ended a long winless streak in thrilling fashion, with Semenyo’s stoppage-time strike providing a perfect farewell. For Tottenham, defensive lapses and a lack of finishing continue to put Thomas Frank under pressure as Spurs struggle to regain consistency in the Premier League.