Bournemouth secured their first home victory of the campaign with a commanding 3-1 win over Southampton in the South Coast derby at the Vitality Stadium, leaving the Saints still winless on their return to the Premier League. The Cherries entered the match after two straight losses without scoring, but quickly turned their fortunes around with an impressive display.
The hosts struck early, taking the lead in the 17th minute when Marcus Tavernier’s quick free-kick found Evanilson, who netted his first goal for the club with a precise first-time shot into the bottom corner. Bournemouth doubled their lead before the half-hour mark, as Antoine Semenyo’s skillful play set up Lewis Cook, whose deflected shot from Dango Ouattara made it 2-0.
Semenyo continued to torment Southampton and added a third goal before half-time with a brilliant solo effort, completing a twisting run with a clinical finish that sent the home crowd into celebrations. Southampton improved after the break and pulled one back early in the second half when Taylor Harwood-Bellis headed in Yukinara Sugawara’s cross.
Despite Southampton’s efforts, Bournemouth remained in control, with Evanilson and Ryan Christie coming close to extending their lead. The Cherries held firm to secure their second win of the season, climbing above Brentford and Manchester United in the table. Southampton, on the other hand, are still without a win in their last 10 top-flight away matches and remain stuck in the relegation zone.
