In a dramatic Premier League encounter at the Vitality Stadium, Antoine Semenyo wrote a perfect farewell script, firing a 93rd-minute winner to give AFC Bournemouth a thrilling 3-2 victory over Tottenham Hotspur. The result ended a dismal 12-game winless run for the Cherries and intensified the scrutiny on under-pressure Spurs manager Thomas Frank.
A Fairytale Farewell for the Ghanaian Winger
The match was poised to be Semenyo's last for Bournemouth, with the £65 million move to Manchester City set to be completed imminently. The London-born winger, who celebrated his 26th birthday the day before, delivered a storybook ending. Picking up a short pass from substitute David Brooks in added time, Semenyo drove forward and unleashed a powerful strike to win the game, sending the home fans into raptures.
He was substituted moments later to a deafening standing ovation and returned post-match for an emotional lap of honour, marking the end of his chapter on the south coast. The victory also secured Bournemouth's first league double over Tottenham this season.
Rollercoaster Encounter at the Vitality
The match was a pulsating affair from the outset. Tottenham, making five changes after being booed off following a weekend draw, took an early lead after just five minutes. Mathys Tel finished after a clever Xavi Simons backheel, with a slight deflection off Alex Jimenez helping the ball past goalkeeper Dorde Petrovic.
Bournemouth fought back, levelling after 22 minutes when Evanilson powered home a header from Marcus Tavernier's cross. The hosts then turned the game around before half-time. Tavernier was again the provider, his cross eventually falling for Junior Kroupi to sweep home after Semenyo had missed his attempted volley.
Spurs pushed for an equaliser in the second half, with substitute Richarlison heading against the post. They finally drew level in the 78th minute through a spectacular overhead kick from Joao Palhinha following a corner, the team's tenth set-piece goal of the campaign. It seemed to have salvaged a point until Semenyo's last-gasp intervention.
Growing Pressure on Thomas Frank
For Tottenham manager Thomas Frank, it was another miserable night. His evening had begun with an unfortunate public relations blunder, being photographed before the game drinking from an Arsenal-branded cup. The result means Spurs have won just two of their last 12 Premier League games, highlighting a deepening crisis.
Injuries compounded Frank's woes, with midfielder Lucas Bergvall forced off during the match. Following the recent sale of Brennan Johnson, the need for urgent reinforcements in the January transfer window, particularly in attack, was starkly evident. The travelling Spurs fans paid tribute to late club legend Martin Chivers, but the current side lacked the cutting edge of past greats.
The match also featured a controversial moment when referee Darren England initially awarded Tottenham a penalty after Micky van de Ven's long run and tumble in the box, only to reverse the decision following a VAR review.
Ultimately, the night belonged to Antoine Semenyo and Bournemouth. The Cherries' first win since October, masterminded by Andoni Iraola, provided a huge boost, while Tottenham's season continues to unravel, leaving Thomas Frank facing serious questions with the transfer window now open.
