Bournemouth got back on track with a crucial win over Fulham, reigniting their push for European football next season.
Antoine Semenyo’s early goal was enough to seal the victory, with the hosts putting in a solid performance despite Fulham’s frustrated attempts to respond.
A Rocky Start for Fulham
For Fulham manager Marco Silva, it was a night to forget. The match took an unfortunate turn in the 57th minute when he attempted a triple substitution.
What should have been a routine change turned into a chaotic scene, with the fourth official struggling to ensure the right number of players were on the pitch.
Silva’s frustration was palpable as he vented his anger at the official.
This confusion summed up the overall atmosphere for Fulham on the night.
Fulham had hoped a win could push them to 51 points, leveling with Chelsea.
However, Bournemouth’s swift counterattack after a mistake from Fulham defender Timothy Castagne left them trailing early.
The goal came just 52 seconds into the match, and Bournemouth never looked back.
Early Goal Sets the Tone
Bournemouth’s manager Andoni Iraola needed this win badly.
The team had been on a downturn after a promising start to the season, with their European hopes hanging by a thread after a string of home losses.
Semenyo capitalized on Castagne’s poor pass, leading a lightning-fast counterattack.
The referee, Michael Oliver, played his part by allowing the move to continue after a foul on Alex Scott, which set the stage for Semenyo’s well-taken goal.
The first half saw more chances for Bournemouth, including a powerful shot from Evanilson that rattled the crossbar.
Tyler Adams and Lewis Cook also came close, but it was clear that Fulham’s defense was struggling to keep up.
Fulham’s Missed Opportunities
Fulham’s first real chance came from a defensive mistake by Bournemouth, but Rodrigo Muniz couldn’t capitalize, missing an opportunity when he was one-on-one with Kepa Arrizabalaga.
The Chelsea loanee was lucky as both Muniz and Ryan Sessegnon’s headers were straight at him, failing to test the keeper.
In the second half, Fulham thought they might have a man advantage when Marcos Senesi made a sliding challenge on Joachim Andersen.
However, after a VAR review, referee Oliver opted for just a yellow card, much to Fulham’s displeasure.
Iraola’s Tactical Changes
Iraola was quick to make changes after the break, taking no chances with a second yellow card for Senesi. He brought on Illia Zabarnyi, keeping the defensive line strong.
Bournemouth continued to pressure, and after a brilliant save by Leno from an Adams tap-in, Fulham were forced into their own changes.
The triple substitution, though, became a moment of frustration for Silva, taking far longer than expected, and he didn’t hide his displeasure from the fourth official.
By the time the final whistle blew, it was clear that Silva and Fulham were on the losing end of a frustrating evening.
The result saw Bournemouth leapfrog Fulham in the standings, taking their eighth-place position by virtue of a superior goal difference.
Looking Ahead
With the victory, Bournemouth keep their European ambitions alive, and manager Iraola will hope this win sparks a run of form as they push for a higher finish.
Meanwhile, Fulham will need to regroup quickly as their playoff hopes are starting to look slimmer with each passing week.