Premier League
AFC Bournemouth 4 (Lerma 20’, 24’, Solanke 63’, Semenyo 90’)
Leeds United 1 (Bamford 32’)
Bournemouth: Neto (GK) (C), Kelly, Lerma, Solanke (Stacey 89’), Christie, Ouattara, Rothwell (Cook 73’), Smith, Vina (Anthony 62’), Senesi, Billing (Moore 62’ (Semenyo 83’)). Subs not used: Travers (GK), Stephens, Brooks, Zabarnyi.
Leeds: Meslier (GK), Ayling, Koch, Cooper (C) (Wober 35’), Roca, Bamford (Rodrigo 71’), Summerville, Harrison, Kristensen, McKennie (Forshaw 71’), Gnonto. Subs not used: Robles (GK), Firpo, Aaronson, Struijk, Rutter, Greenwood.
Venue: Vitality Stadium
Attendance: 10,434
Referee: Chris Kavanagh
Booked: Smith (Bournemouth)
Leeds United suffered defeat away from home against AFC Bournemouth, losing 4-1 at the Vitality Stadium in game number 34 of their Premier League campaign.
When the game got underway, Leeds had a big chance inside the opening five minutes on the South Coast. Initially, referee Chris Kavanagh awarded a penalty for a clear handball, but following a VAR check it was then correctly changed to a free-kick on the edge of the box. Marc Roca struck it powerfully, forcing Neto to make a good save.
Just after the 10 minute mark, another good chance arrived. Crysencio Summerville broke into the box and crossed into the middle. The ball landed for Jack Harrison to strike and he did just that, but saw Adam Smith block the ball as it was heading in.
The next good chance went to the home side, through Jefferson Lerma. He cut into the box and struck at goal, but Liam Cooper was well placed to block the effort. Straight down the other end, Patrick Bamford was the next to go close, forcing Neto into another save.
In the 20th minute, Bournemouth went into the lead. Cooper had done well to block another effort, this one from Dominic Solanke, before Lerma curled home the follow up into the top corner.
Shortly after, Lerma got his second and doubled the lead for the Cherries. Ryan Christie’s deep corner wasn’t dealt with and the ball fell for Lerma to smash home into the roof of the net.
Leeds looked to respond and did pull a goal back. Good work from Harrison found Willy Gnonto on the wing. He looked up and put in a pinpoint cross to the back post, where Bamford had found space to power home a header and reduce the deficit.
Following Bamford’s goal, Javi Gracia was forced into his first change of the match. Cooper had gone down injured and the captain couldn’t continue, with Max Wober coming on to take his place before the interval.
HALF TIME: AFC Bournemouth 2-1 Leeds United
The second half got underway with no changes from either side at the break. The first chance took a while to come, when it did though it was for Leeds. Luke Ayling placed a header back across goal for Gnonto, with the winger rising well but putting his header wide.
Just after an hours play at the Vitality Stadium, the home side scored their third. A long ball over the top found Dango Ouattara who played the ball into the box, eventually finding Solanke who placed home into the bottom corner.
Neto was called into action again between the posts for the home side, diving to his right and pushing away another good strike from Roca.
Gracia then made a double change, bringing on Rodrigo and Adam Forshaw, in place of Weston McKennie and Bamford.
Further good chances arrived in quick succession for Leeds, but Neto again stood firm. Robin Koch flicked a header on target which the ‘keeper finger tipped away, before he then got back up to turn behind Gnonto’s rebound.
The home side had a huge chance themselves to further their lead. Recently introduced into the game, Kieffer Moore had time and space six-yards from goal, but powered a header over the bar. The striker picked up a knock in the process and had to go off, after just coming on.
In stoppage time, the home side did score a fourth. Fresh from the bench as Moore’s replacement, Antoine Semenyo was played into the box and finished with his left-foot to wrap up the points.
FULL TIME: AFC Bournemouth 4-1 Leeds United