AFC BOURNEMOUTH 3 SPURS 2
By SCM SPORT REPORTER
ANTOINE SEMENYO celebrated his birthday by handing Tottenham a brutal parting gift, smashing home a 95th-minute winner to leave Thomas Frank’s superstars in absolute meltdown.
On a night of pure South Coast chaos, the Man City-bound winger—playing his final game for the Cherries before a £65 million move—produced a moment of pure magic to settle a five-goal thriller.
But as the home fans bounced, the Spurs stars saw red, with Micky van de Ven and Joao Palhinha forced to confront their own furious fans at the final whistle.
It all started so well for the visitors. French wonderkid Mathys Tel needed just five minutes to show why he’s the new darling of North London, cutting inside to fire a laser-guided finish into the bottom corner.
At that moment, Spurs looked like the “super team” they are on paper.
But as has been the story of their season, the defensive cracks weren’t just showing—they were gaping wide.
By half-time, the Cherries had turned the game on its head. Evanilson rose highest to nod home a delicious Marcus Tavernier cross, before Eli Kroupi Junior poked home a second to leave Thomas Frank fuming on the touchline.
PALHINHA’S PEACH
Tottenham’s superstars tried to find a way back, and it arrived via the most unlikely source of acrobatics. Joao Palhinha, more known for crunching tackles than clinical finishes, sent the away end into raptures with a stunning bicycle kick to level the scores at 2-2.
The momentum shifted. Spurs looked certain to win it when Van de Ven powered a header toward the top corner, only for Bournemouth keeper Djordje Petrovic to pull off a save that defied gravity.
Then came the 95th minute. With the clock ticking down on his Bournemouth career and his 26th birthday, Semenyo picked up the ball on the edge of the area. He didn’t look for a pass. He didn’t look for a foul. He simply lashed a right-footed rocket into the bottom corner.
The Vitality erupted. The Man City scouts in the stands must have been licking their lips; Thomas Frank was left licking his wounds.
At the final whistle, the real drama began. The traveling Spurs fans, sick of seeing their side drop points, let the players have it. Van de Ven and Pedro Porro were seen in a heated exchange with the crowd, while Palhinha had to act as peacemaker.
For Bournemouth, it’s a fairytale farewell for their star man.
For Tottenham, it’s back to the drawing board as the pressure on Frank reaches boiling point.
