Fulham and AFC Bournemouth Draw 2-2 in Premier League Clash
Dango Ouattara, the hero of the hour, emerged from the bench to salvage a crucial point for Bournemouth against Fulham, extending both teams’ unbeaten streaks to an impressive seven Premier League matches.
As the Cherries ramped up their pressure in search of a late equalizer, it was Ouattara who seized upon a loose ball in the box just before the final whistle, executing a cheeky dink over the onrushing Bernd Leno that had the away supporters roaring with delight.
Fulham appeared to be heading for victory when Harry Wilson scored a superb header in the 72nd minute, connecting beautifully with Antonee Robinson’s inviting cross. A goal that seemed set to secure all three points for the hosts.
Prior to that, it was Mexican forward Raul Jimenez who broke the deadlock in the 40th minute, capitalizing on a defensive lapse from Bournemouth during a corner kick. It was Jimenez’s sixth goal of the season, showcasing his poaching instincts once more.
Bournemouth fought back in the second half, with Evanilson shaking off a seven-game goal drought to brilliantly finish from a challenging angle just six minutes after the break, leveling the score and igniting hopes of a full comeback.
Tempers flared in the first half when Ryan Christie of the Cherries avoided a red card for a reckless studs-up challenge on Robinson, a decision that sparked fury among the Fulham players. Yet, VAR intervened, deciding that a yellow card was an adequate reprimand.
Despite a strong performance, Fulham may feel regret at not securing the win, especially after Jimenez came close to adding a second, only for Dean Huijsen to heroically clear the ball off the line.
With his earlier strike, Jimenez entered the record books as the joint-highest scoring Mexican in Premier League history, matching the illustrious Javier Hernandez with a tally of 53 goals.
As it stands, Fulham sits in eighth place and looks ahead to hosting Ipswich Town on January 5, while sixth-placed Bournemouth prepares to welcome Everton to the Vitality Stadium a day earlier.
Iraola’s Cherries show fighting spirit
The affection between Bournemouth fans and manager Andoni Iraola is palpable, and quite rightly so. Under his stewardship, the Cherries have soared to sixth place, their sights firmly set on European football for the forthcoming season.
From the first whistle, Bournemouth took charge, raining shots on Bernd Leno’s goal with striking efforts from David Brooks and Antoine Semenyo forcing the Fulham keeper into sensational saves.
After being stunned by Fulham’s goal just before half-time, Bournemouth returned with renewed vigor, equalizing through a magnificent effort from Evanilson, who struck with precision from a challenging position.
Bournemouth’s quest for the win never wavered; they continued to push forward diligently. Philip Billing squandered a golden opportunity, yet they kept up the fervent pursuit even after conceding again.
The resilience of this team was truly on display when Ouattara, cool as can be, sculpted a delicate finish over Leno to clinch the much-deserved equalizer with only moments to spare.
With their unbeaten run still intact, Iraola’s side is now breathing down the neck of defending champions Manchester City, sitting just a point behind in fifth. The growth of this team under his guidance is genuinely noteworthy.
Fulham in frame for European spot
In what is shaping up to be one of the fiercest Premier League seasons to date, Fulham finds themselves very much in contention for a coveted European spot next term.
The Cottagers have navigated a challenging December, tackling title contenders Arsenal, Liverpool, and Chelsea, and have emerged unbeaten, fueling their aspirations for European football in the upcoming season.
Had they managed to maintain their lead, they would have dethroned Bournemouth from the sixth position; instead, they now find themselves a mere two points behind Manchester City.
Under Marco Silva, Fulham is enjoying its best form yet, with an impressive unbeaten streak spanning seven matches in the league. The focus will shift now towards sustaining this momentum as they enter the second half of the campaign.
The year has been marked by continued improvement under Silva’s direction, highlighted by the eye-catching performances of left-back Robinson, who has garnered interest for his dual-threat capabilities, while Harry Wilson’s contributions have been significant with his second goal in as many games.
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Player of the match
Number: 11
D. Ouattara
D. Ouattara
Average rating
7.75
7.75
Number:
8
H. Wilson
8
H. Wilson
Average Rating:
7.52
Number:
7
R. Jiménez
7
R. Jiménez
Average Rating:
7.44
Number:
33
A. Robinson
33
A. Robinson
Average Rating:
7.44
Number:
1
B. Leno
1
B. Leno
Average Rating:
7.32
Number:
17
A. Iwobi
17
A. Iwobi
Average Rating:
7.27
Number:
3
C. Bassey
3
C. Bassey
Average Rating:
7.14
Number:
10
T. Cairney
10
T. Cairney
Average Rating:
7.13
Number:
21
T. Castagne
21
T. Castagne
Average Rating:
6.99
Number:
20
S. Lukić
20
S. Lukić
Average Rating:
6.97
Number:
32
E. Smith Rowe
32
E. Smith Rowe
Average Rating:
6.96
Number:
24
J. King
24
J. King
Average Rating:
6.87
Number:
9
Rodrigo Muniz
9
Rodrigo Muniz
Average Rating:
6.76
Number:
11
Adama Traoré
11
Adama Traoré
Average Rating:
6.70
Number:
5
J. Andersen
5
J. Andersen
Average Rating:
6.69
Number:
18
Andreas Pereira
18
Andreas Pereira
Average Rating:
6.47
Number:
31
I. Diop
31
I. Diop
Average Rating:
6.21
Number:
11
D. Ouattara
11
D. Ouattara
Average Rating:
7.75
Number:
9
Evanilson
9
Evanilson
Average Rating:
7.63
Number:
10
R. Christie
10
R. Christie
Average Rating:
7.52
Number:
2
Dean Huijsen
2
Dean Huijsen
Average Rating:
7.32
Number:
23
J. Hill
23
J. Hill
Average Rating:
7.29
Number:
24
A. Semenyo
24
A. Semenyo
Average Rating:
7.24
Number:
27
I. Zabarnyi
27
I. Zabarnyi
Average Rating:
7.16
Number:
4
L. Cook
4
L. Cook
Average Rating:
7.14
Number:
7
D. Brooks
7
D. Brooks
Average Rating:
7.13
Number:
3
M. Kerkez
3
M. Kerkez
Average Rating:
7.11
Number:
26
E. Ünal
26
E. Ünal
Average Rating:
6.91
Number:
47
B. Winterburn
47
B. Winterburn
Average Rating:
6.83
Number:
29
P. Billing
29
P. Billing
Average Rating:
6.73
Number:
37
M. Aarons
37
M. Aarons
Average Rating:
6.73
Number:
13
Kepa
13
Kepa
Average Rating:
6.72
After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.
