Semenyo's Two-Goal Blitz Erases Fulham's Lead in Eight-Minute Demolition

Sehr unterhaltsam Futmetrix-Wertung: 84/100. Four goals in 20 minutes transformed a tentative first half into a breathless finale where substitutes rewrote the script.

When Substitutes Change Destinies

Bournemouth trailed 0-1 after 70 minutes—Sessegnon's finish from Chukwueze's assist had seemed decisive. Then the Balance shifted violently. Antoine Semenyo equalized in the 78th minute, Justin Kluivert—introduced at the hour—restored Bournemouth's lead four minutes later, and Semenyo completed his brace in stoppage time. Three goals in eight minutes. The Intensity compressed into those final exchanges redefined the entire 90.

What appeared a potential upset—Fulham, winless in their last two, threatening a top-four side—became a masterclass in second-half control. Bournemouth's 54% possession masked the real story: they suffocated Fulham after the interval. The home side's 11 total shots yielded six on target; Fulham's 12 attempts produced only four. xG told a different tale (Bournemouth 1.12, Fulham 0.88), but execution trumped expected value here.

The Stakes made this more than a routine three points. Bournemouth, fourth on 14 points, faced a Fulham side languishing 14th on 8 points—a 10-point gap masked deeper anxieties about form and trajectory. Fulham's recent collapse (one win in five) demanded a response; instead, they capitulated. Bournemouth's 4-2-1 record suddenly looks like a platform for a genuine title push.

Semenyo's performance (9.3 rating, two goals, one assist) transcended statistics. His movement in the final 20 minutes created space others couldn't find. Kluivert's impact off the bench (7.9 rating, one goal in 29 minutes) vindicated tactical boldness. Even Marcos Senesi's defensive solidity (7.6 rating) provided the platform—Bournemouth's backline didn't panic as Fulham pressed.

The Goal Flurry between minutes 70-84 crystallized the match's narrative arc: stasis, then chaos. Bournemouth's ability to absorb pressure, then unleash it, separates contenders from pretenders.