Semenyo inspires Bournemouth to Southampton win

Antoine Semenyo starred as Bournemouth piled more early-season misery on winless south-coast rivals Southampton with a thumping 3-1 Premier League victory at Vitality Stadium.

Club-record signing Evanilson set the Cherries on course for a maiden home success of the campaign by volleying his first goal in English football before Dango Ouattara doubled the lead in fortuitous fashion.

Semenyo, who was involved in the opening two finishes, im­pressively rifled in his third strike of the campaign to stretch the advantage in the 39th minute.

Taylor Harwood-Bellis’ header spared Southampton embar­rassment, but they never looked likely to mount a second-half fightback.

During a relatively positive opening from the visitors, Maxwel Cornet had an effort blocked behind by Marcos Senesi before former Cherries winger Ryan Fraser, who was incessantly booed by home fans, brought a routine save out of Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Those early moments of promise were quickly forgotten as Bournemouth blitzed their stunned opponents before the break, beginning with an impromptu 17th-minute break­through.

After Semenyo was fouled by Flynn Downes deep in Saints territory, the quick-thinking Mar­cus Tavernier swiftly dinked the resulting free-kick over the static visiting defence for stretching summer arrival Evanilson to find the bottom left corner.

Following good work down the right from the lively Semen­yo, Lewis Cook’s side-footed effort from just inside the 18-yard box flicked off Ouattara to beat Saints goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.

Saints were swiftly in dan­ger of suffering humiliation as winger Semenyo continued to torment.

The Ghana international collected the ball 30 yards out from goal and duly beat Lesley Ugochukwu twice before arrow­ing a low, diagonal drive into the bottom left corner.

Moments after forcing a fine save out of Cherries keeper Kepa with a header from Tyler Dibling’s free-kick, Harwood-Bellis stooped to nod home when Mateus Fernandes’ cross from the left took a touch off Ryan Christie. -Independent