Antoine Semenyo saluted a "top performance" from the rest of his teammates as Bournemouth beat Tottenham 1-0 on their turf. Despite all the exits this summer, the Cherries are as competitive as ever.
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‘Props to the boys!’
Evanilson crept down the left channel to crash the ball into the back of the net in the early stages. Semenyo might have buried a header as he connected with a clever outside of the boot cross from David Brooks. This all happened in the first quarter of an hour as the visitors started sharply.
“Well we played really well first half. It was a top performance but we all said at half-time we have to be at our best to make sure we do it again in the second half.”
The winger has been a standout figure for the Cherries through his two-footed finishing, powerful physique, and unpredictability. After bagging a brace against Liverpool at Anfield to draw his side level, he again impressed in a clash with a 'Big Six' club as he put himself up against Pedro Porro.
“It was a really top performance. I enjoyed the game. I had a tough battle with Pedro Porro. I want to prove myself against the best in the league. The team deserved three points, showed great character.”
The directness, physicality, and intensity of the Cherries reflected the identity that Andoni Iraola has constructed with the group in the last two years. Spurs were overwhelmed, failing to register a single shot before half time, and a late flurry in the final fifteen minutes could not force an equaliser.
“It’s never easy to keep Spurs quiet as they’re a top team, but we kept the ball well and did everything right. We stuck together in touch moments and got a really good three points.”
It is a testament to the camp that they have achieved this result. The club lost Illia Zabarnyi, Dean Huijsen, Milos Kerkez, and Kepa Arrizabalaga this summer. Adrien Truffert, Bafode Diakite, and Djordje Petrovic have stepped in pretty seamlessly, keeping two clean sheets in seven days.
“We had all trained really well through the week, we got the press right and those little details right and we showed it on the pitch, props to the boys! It’s a great win ahead of the international break.”
