- Black Stars striker Antoine Semenyo marked his return to club duty in style, grabbing both a goal and an assist for AFC Bournemouth
- His sharp form in front of goal across the opening four league fixtures has already earned him a rare milestone in the Premier League
- The in-form forward now shifts focus to Bournemouth’s next challenge, as they look to extend their winning run when they host Newcastle
AFC Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo expressed his delight after helping the Cherries grind out a 2-1 victory against Brighton in a tense South Coast battle.
Fresh off international duty with Ghana, Semenyo was immediately restored to the starting XI and made his presence felt from the opening whistle.
Source: Getty Images
The 25-year-old’s sharp control and clever pass set up Alex Scott for a brilliant 18th-minute strike that sent the home crowd into celebration.
Brighton hit back shortly after the interval through Kaoru Mitoma’s close-range header, but a rash challenge by Jan Paul van Hecke handed Bournemouth the chance to retake the lead.
Semenyo made no mistake from the spot, calmly slotting home with just under half an hour to play.
The Cherries held firm to secure all three points, moving up to third in the Premier League with nine points, while Brighton sit 12th with four.
Source: Getty Images
The win was Bournemouth’s first against their rivals since April 2024, a milestone not lost on the players.
Reflecting after the match, Semenyo admitted it wasn’t the team’s prettiest performance via Bournemouth’s official website:
“The manger said in the week that we had not beaten Brighton in a while,” he said.
“We had to do what we did against Tottenham Hotspur, it was an ugly win in some stages but a win nonetheless.
“It wasn’t us at our best and like I said, it was pretty ugly! The manager said it might go this way – it did and we found a way to win. It’s a really good side to show to our game.
“The mood is perfect, everyone is perfect and enjoying training and buzzing to get involved. You can’t ask for anymore than that and everyone is really happy.”
Semenyo confidently stepped up to the penalty spot without regular penalty taker Justin Kluivert on the pitch.
Despite his good record from the spot, Semenyo isn’t sure whether he’ll be able to wrestle the responsibility off the flawless Kluivert.
He continued:
“I don’t know. We have to wait and see, Justin scored a lot last season so he may take them. But I had to score and stepped up today, which was nice.
“But it’s a team game, I have to do what I can for the team, today I got the opportunity but Justin hasn’t missed one so who knows!”
According to Squawka, Semenyo is the first player to be directly involved in five Premier League goals this season after his goal and assist helped the Cherries beat Brighton 2-1.
The result lifts Andoni Iraola’s men to third position (as at the time of writing), boasting nine points from four games.
With confidence soaring, Semenyo and his teammates now shifts focus to their next game; a home match against Newcastle United on September 21.
Andoni Iraola’s men will be determined to extend Bournemouth’s winning momentum in the weeks ahead.
Why Man United failed to sign Semenyo
Earlier, YEN.com.gh explained why Manchester United’s pursuit of Antoine Semenyo fell through during the summer transfer window.
Discussions with Bournemouth kicked off as far back as March, with manager Amorim earmarking the Ghanaian forward as a vital piece for his attacking overhaul.
Source: YEN.com.gh
Source: Yen.com.gh
