Bournemouth vs Tottenham Hotspur; Premier League
Bournemouth vs Tottenham Hotspur. Premier League.
Vitality StadiumAttendance11,212.
Bournemouth 3
- Evanilson (22nd minute)
- E Kroupi (36th minute)
- A Semenyo (95th minute)
Tottenham Hotspur 2
- M Tel (5th minute)
- J Palhinha (78th minute)
Bournemouth 3-2 Tottenham: Antoine Semenyo wins it in 95th minute with last kick for club as pressure mounts on Thomas Frank
Report and free highlights as Antoine Semenyo said goodbye by scoring 95th minute winner vs Spurs; Mathys Tel gave Spurs early lead but Evanilson and Eli Kroupi Junior turned game on its head; Joao Palhinah equalised with a bicycle kick but Semenyo's winner raises pressure on Thomas Frank
Thursday 8 January 2026 07:22, UK
Antoine Semenyo gave Bournemouth the perfect goodbye gift as his 95th minute winner - likely his last kick for the club - earned his team a 3-2 win over Spurs, to ramp up the pressure on Thomas Frank.
It was written in the stars as the Man City-bound winger - who had stayed to play in this match despite a deal being done for a while - crashed in a late driven finish to end a topsy-turvy game.
After the game, Andoni Iraola confirmed it would be Semenyo's final game for the club. "It looks like it, yes," he told Sky Sports.
"I'm afraid to say it, as I don't want to lose him, but I think it's going to be his last moments with us."
"That's how it happens in the movies and no-one deserves it more than him," added Marcus Tavernier to Sky.
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That goal ended a 11-game winless run for Bournemouth - in another example of 'Dr Tottenham' giving a side in need a victory cure.
Frank's Spurs got off to the perfect start as Mathys Tel drove in a deflected finish from the edge of the box - for Tottenham's first goal from open play for six games, dating back a month and a day.
But by half-time, the heat was back on Frank as Bournemouth found themselves in front via two expert Marcus Tavernier crosses.
The first was headed in expertly by Evanilson, making it two goals in two straight home games for the forward. That would also be the case for Eli Kroupi Junior, who tapped in from close range after Marcos Senesi had kept Tavernier's searching delivery alive.
The second half was even better, with drama all over.
Spurs were initially given a penalty when Micky van de Ven tumbled in the box after two challenges from David Brooks and James Hill - but VAR Jared Gillett forced a review for referee Darren England, who reversed the decision after seeing neither challenge was worthy of a spot kick.
Richarlison also had a close-range header crash off the post, but Spurs would find a way back through Joao Palhinha, who produced a stunning overhead kick - to rival Cristian Romero's one at Newcastle - after the Cherries failed to clear a corner.
Van de Ven forced a stunning save from Djordje Petrovic, which could have given Spurs the win - before the script followed suit with Semenyo's late winner.
Van de Ven and Palhinha speak to Spurs fans at full-time
In dramatic scenes at full-time, Spurs players Van de Ven and Palhinha addressed some angry away fans at the full-time whistle.
Spurs defender Van de Ven went to them straight away after the whistle, before being joined by Palhinha.
"It was just the supporters sharing their frustrations," said Palhinha to Sky Sports.
"We of course understand, we respect them first of all. I just said we are fighting for all the same. We want to win, not just the players - the staff and the supporters. We are trying to get the wins that, in my opinion, we deserve in the last games."
Bournemouth was also the place where former Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou received abuse from the visiting fans last season, after a defeat on the south coast.
The damning stats of Spurs' wretched run
- Tottenham have now lost 30 games since the start of 2024/25. Only Wolves have lost more Premier League games in that time.
- Spurs have won just two of their last 12 Premier League games, and picked up 10 points from a possible 36 in that time.
- For the fourth time since the start of 2025, Tottenham scored first in a Premier League game but still trailed at half-time - that is as often as it happened to Spurs between 2010 and 2024.
Tottenham have scored just one goal in open play in their last seven games - Mathys Tel's opener at the Vitality was their first since the 2-0 win over Brentford on December 6.
Having won four of their first five away games this season, Spurs have tasted victory on their travels in just one of their last six, the 1-0 win at Crystal Palace on December 28
Frank addresses why he drank from Arsenal cup
Before the game, Tottenham head coach Frank was pictured with an Arsenal-branded cup ahead of their match at Bournemouth.
Frank, who has been subject to boos from his own fans in recent weeks, may not have helped his popularity among the Spurs faithful with this faux pas.
Frank claimed the reason why he had an Arsenal cup was because he inadvertently picked up a leftover cup after Mikel Arteta's side had left some at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday in a 3-2 win.
"I definitely did not notice it," said Frank in his post-match press conference.
"It's fair to say that not winning every single football match, it would be absolutely stupid of me to take a cup with Arsenal on it. Anyone thinking I've done that or the staff has done it…
"They've been in the changing room the game before us [on Saturday]. It's normal to say: 'give me a cup of espresso' before every game.
"I think it's a little bit sad in football that I need to be asked a question like that. We are definitely going in the wrong direction if we are worrying about me having a cup of another club. Of course I wouldn't do that. That would be really stupid."
Iraola: Great that football gave Semenyo this moment
Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola to Sky Sports:
"The last games we were deserving more, it can't go every time to the other side. Today we were the ones shooting form the edge, scoring.
"A lovely moment for Antoine, very happy for him. Sometimes football gives you these things, he's been top. He's given everything, been committed to everything we wanted until the end.
"We gave him all we could and it's good that football gives him back this moment for sure."
