Bournemouth won their second Premier League title of the season with a 3-1 home win over south coast rivals Southampton.
First-half goals from Evanilson, Dango Ouattara and Antoine Semenyo put Bournemouth in complete control after 45 minutes at the Vitality Stadium, before Saints pulled a goal back through Taylor Harwood-Bellis in the second half.
The win moves Bournemouth up to 11th place, while newly promoted Southampton remain in 19th place and are looking for their first league win of the season.
Southampton threatened early on when Maxwell Cornet’s effort was deflected wide, and Kepa Arrizabalaga did well to deny former Bournemouth winger Ryan Fraser.
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Evanilsen scored the first goal for Bournemouth as Southampton was caught off guard with a quick free kick.
But Bournemouth took the lead with their first clear opening, winning a quick free-kick after Flynn Downes brought down Semenyo on the left flank of Southampton’s half. With the ball dead Marcus Tavernier hit it over the top for Evanilson to volley past Aaron Ramsdale.
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Antoine Semenyo’s brilliant set-up was met by Lewis Cook who curled the ball towards Aaron Ramsdale before Dango Ouattara got the final touch.
Bournemouth scored their second goal after 30 minutes. Tavernier was again involved in the build-up, passing to Semenyo who moved the ball inside for Lewis Cook to fire, and Ouattara got the vital touch to poke the ball past Ramsdale from close range.
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Semenyo scores ‘amazing’ third goal for Bournemouth
The Cherries didn’t have to wait long for a third as Semenyo broke through Southampton’s defense on the left edge of the area and curled right-footed home a corner past Ramsdale.
Southampton responded at the break by making a triple substitution with Joe Aribo, Ross Stewart and Ben Brereton Diaz replacing Lesley Ugochukwu, Fraser and Cornet.
The change had an immediate impact as it took less than five minutes for Saints to get a goal back, with Harwood-Vellis stooping to head in Fabrice Fernandes’ cross to score his first Premier League goal.
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Taylor Harwood-Bellis restored Southampton’s goal with a low header against Bournemouth.
Stewart headed over the bar before fellow substitute Brereton Diaz fired an effort wide, and at the other end Evanilson wasted a chance to double his tally after firing straight at Ramsdale.
Ryan Christie flashed wide before Luis Sinisterra missed a fourth for Bournemouth when his shot was blocked by Ramsdale in added time.
MARTIN: I didn’t recognize my team. We are soft!
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Southampton manager Russell Martin criticized his side during the first half of their 3-1 loss to Bournemouth in the Premier League.
southampton manager Russell Martin said sky sports:
“After the first goal, the first half of the game was very heartbreaking. I didn’t recognize my team. Normally, I’d be proud of the courage they show, but there was no aggression, no courage, no intensity. I looked around and there was a self-preservation mode on the pitch. It was visible.
“I didn’t recognize the body language. I didn’t like that a little bit. We showed too much fighting and courage in the second half, but it was too late.”
“I was really hurt and disappointed in the first half. It’s up to me and I have to give them the tools to deal with the setbacks better than we did.
“We didn’t learn from the defeat at Manchester United, which was obviously problematic.
“We were soft so we forgot our style of play. If you don’t want to run, fight and make contact, take it personally. We didn’t have the ball at all in the first half and that’s what will happen.” It’s a problem.”
Semenyo: We knew we could catch Saints.
Semenyo celebrates scoring Bournemouth’s third goal against Southampton.
Bournemouth winger Antoine Semeno He has scored 10 goals (8 goals, 2 assists) in his last 20 Premier League appearances for Bournemouth.
Semenyo said this about Bournemouth’s first goal: Sky Sports: “We watched some video from the meeting during the week so we knew we could keep up with them with quick free-kicks.
“It was quick thinking from Tav (Tavernier) and a great finish from Evan (Evanilson). I’m buzzing for him and he’s going to be a problem for the team this season.”
“I’ve been practicing my whole life and I’m blessed to be able to play with both feet,” Semenyo said of his form and ability to play with both his right and left feet.
