Semenyo shines, Kepa saves - Bournemouth take down Fulham in crucial win | OneFootball

Bournemouth moved above Fulham into eighth place in the Premier League standings with a 1-0 win at the Vitality Stadium. Antoine Semenyo scored the only goal of the match in the opening minute. The away side were caught out straight from kickoff, and Alex Scott took advantage of the mistake to find Semenyo, who finished calmly across goal.

The home side had chances to extend their lead, with Semenyo going close before Evanilson hit the woodwork. Fulham, meanwhile, grew into the game after starting slowly. Rodrigo Muniz looked sharp in the first half, and the visitors had promising spells on either side of the break but struggled to create clear chances despite enjoying more possession and shots on target. Marco Silva's second-half changes did not have the desired result, as Fulham lacked control in midfield and couldn’t break Bournemouth down.

On the other end, Bernd Leno had to be alert to deny Adams and Scott from range. For the hosts, Kepa Arrizabalaga produced some brilliant saves throughout the match to preserve the lead. It was another brilliant night for the on-loan Chelsea goalkeeper, who is expected to sign for them permanently at the end of the season despite interest from Real Madrid.

The result means Andoni Iraola’s side has secured their first win in nine matches. It was also only their second clean sheet since January in all competitions, and their first since January 4th. The defeat ends Fulham’s five-match unbeaten run in the league and highlights Bournemouth’s improvement in game management under Iraola.

Both sides now sit on 48 points, but Bournemouth move above Fulham on goal difference. With seven games remaining for both teams, the pair are still in the race to finish in a spot that guarantees European football next season even though their form in recent weeks has made it tough. Up next for Bournemouth is a visit to Crystal Palace on Saturday, while Fulham hosts Chelsea in a London derby on Sunday.