AFC Bournemouth extended their unbeaten run in the Premier League to six games (W4, D2) after coming from behind to beat 10-man Everton 2-1 at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Jordan Pickford was called into action after just three minutes as he was forced to save from Evanilson’s effort, but the Everton stopper had little to do outside of that in the first half.
The Toffees were by far the more threatening team and had the ball in the net through Idrissa Gueye following a corner, but it was ruled out as his fellow Senegalese teammate Iliman Ndiaye attempted to backheel the shot in himself from an offside position.
Another set-piece caused problems for Bournemouth on the half-hour mark when James Garner’s free-kick from distance was spilt by Dorde Petrovic straight into the path of Thierno Barry, who, despite having scored three goals in his previous five appearances on home soil, somehow managed to skew his effort wide.
Petrovic managed to make up for his mistake almost immediately, though, by tipping Ndiaye’s goalbound strike onto the post from a tight angle.
However, the goalkeeper was helpless to stop him from the penalty spot as Ndiaye gave his team a half-time lead by placing the ball into the bottom corner after Rayan had brought down Jarrad Branthwaite in the box.
It ensured that a league-high 12 of Everton’s home league matches this season have seen at least one goal in the first half.
The Toffees then threatened to double their advantage early in the second as Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s curling effort looked destined for the top corner, but James Hill headed the ball away well.
Alex Jimenez also produced a great block of his own to deny Barry on the line, as Everton cranked up the pressure.
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However, Bournemouth’s opposite full-back Adrien Truffert was just as threatening down the other end, as his strike deflected inches wide.
Just after the hour mark, he then put in a devastating cross towards the back post with his weaker right foot for Rayan to head home an equaliser – the 19-year-old has now contributed to goals in each of his three competitive appearances for the Cherries (G2, A1).
Just five minutes later, Bournemouth then turned the game around as Hill headed a free-kick across the box for Amine Adli to nod into the net, with Pickford caught out of his goal.
Adli was then brought down by Jake O’Brien when through on goal, and Everton’s night went from bad to worse as he was consequently sent off.
The Toffees tried to nick an equalising goal as Garner fired over before substitute Beto’s header was held by Petrovic, but ultimately they fell short and lost their own five-match unbeaten league run (W2, D3) as a result.
Flashscore Man of the Match: James Hill (Bournemouth)
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