Antoine Semenyo delivered a stunning performance on Friday night as Bournemouth overturned a late deficit to secure a 3-1 win over Fulham at the Vitality Stadium, a result that moved them into second place in the Premier League table. The game looked to be slipping away from Andoni Iraola’s men when Ryan Sessegnon gave the visitors the lead in the 70th minute, but Bournemouth responded with a ruthless late surge inspired by Semenyo’s brilliance.
The match unfolded under grim weather as Storm Amy swept across the United Kingdom, turning conditions into a battle of endurance rather than fluid football. Both sides struggled to find rhythm until Fulham struck first. Sessegnon combined neatly with Samuel Chukwueze before finishing with power past goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic, giving Marco Silva’s team a vital advantage. However, the lead was short-lived. Within eight minutes, Semenyo sparked the comeback with a dazzling solo run, powering past Timothy Castagne and threading a precise strike between Bernd Leno’s legs to level the score.
The equaliser shifted momentum firmly to Bournemouth. Moments later, Justin Kluivert showcased his quality with a sensational strike from distance. Although Semenyo provided the pass in midfield, it was Kluivert’s decisive control and dipping shot into the top corner that underlined his impact, reminding Iraola of his attacking potential despite limited starts this season. As Fulham pushed forward for an equaliser in stoppage time, they were left exposed at the back. Ben Gannon-Doak raced clear on a counterattack, calmly holding possession before setting up Semenyo for his second goal of the night. The forward made no mistake, scoring his sixth league goal in just seven games to seal the victory and cap off Bournemouth’s dramatic turnaround.
The result extends Bournemouth’s strong start to the season despite losing key defenders Dean Huijsen, Milos Kerkez and Illia Zabarnyi to Real Madrid, Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain during the summer. With the win, the Cherries are now just one point behind leaders Liverpool, who face Chelsea on Sunday in a crucial clash that could determine the top spot before the international break. Speaking after the game, Semenyo expressed his delight at the team’s resilience, highlighting the togetherness in the squad despite losing several important players in the transfer window. Fulham, on the other hand, remain in mid-table with eight points from seven games, a result that left Silva visibly frustrated. He admitted the loss was hard to take, insisting his side had control of the contest before Bournemouth’s late rally turned it around.
Bournemouth’s fightback underlines their growing stature in the league this season, with Semenyo’s form proving a decisive factor in their rise to the top end of the table. As Liverpool prepare for their trip to Stamford Bridge, Iraola’s men will head into the next round of fixtures with renewed confidence, knowing they are now serious contenders at the summit.
