In a dramatic Premier League encounter at the Vitality Stadium, AFC Bournemouth snatched a last-gasp 3-2 victory over Tottenham Hotspur, with departing winger Antoine Semenyo scoring a sensational injury-time winner.
A Fairytale Farewell for Semenyo
The match was perfectly scripted for Antoine Semenyo, who was playing his final game for the Cherries ahead of a £65 million move to Manchester City. The Ghanaian international, who had celebrated his 26th birthday the day before, delivered the perfect parting gift by firing home in the 93rd minute. He was substituted shortly after to a thunderous standing ovation from the home supporters and later took part in an emotional lap of honour.
Rollercoaster Encounter at the Vitality
The game began with Tottenham taking an early lead. After just five minutes, Mathys Tel found the net, his shot taking a slight deflection off Alex Jimenez to beat Bournemouth goalkeeper Dorde Petrovic. It was Spurs' first goal from open play in ten hours of football.
Bournemouth fought back, equalising after 22 minutes through Evanilson's headed finish from a Marcus Tavernier cross. The hosts then turned the game on its head before half-time. Tavernier was again the provider, his cross eventually falling to Junior Kroupi, who swept home to give Bournemouth a 2-1 lead at the interval.
Spurs Fightback Thwarted at the Death
Tottenham, desperate to avoid a third consecutive draw, pushed for an equaliser in the second half. They thought they had salvaged a point when João Palhinha scored with a spectacular 78th-minute overhead kick from a corner. However, Semenyo had the final say, collecting a pass from substitute David Brooks before lashing home a winner that sent the home crowd into raptures.
The result means Bournemouth have completed a league double over Tottenham this season and secured their first win in twelve matches, a relief for manager Andoni Iraola.
Growing Pressure on Thomas Frank
For Tottenham manager Thomas Frank, it was another miserable night. His evening had started controversially, as he was photographed before the game drinking from an Arsenal-branded cup, a blunder unlikely to be forgiven by the travelling Spurs fans. His team's performance did little to improve his mood.
Spurs, who wore black armbands to honour the late club legend Martin Chivers, have now won just two of their last twelve Premier League games. Injuries are mounting, with Lucas Bergvall forced off during the match, compounding the recent sale of Brennan Johnson. The result intensifies the need for reinforcements in the January transfer window, particularly in attack.
The match also featured a moment of VAR controversy, where referee Darren England initially awarded Tottenham a penalty for a challenge on Micky van de Ven, only to reverse the decision after a review.
