Antoine Semenyo excellent, Dean Huijsen miserable: Bournemouth ratings vs Wolves
Bournemouth secured their place in the FA Cup quarter final with a dramatic win over penalties over Wolves at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday (1 March).
There was an extra spice to this one after defender Ilya Zabarnyi was controversially sent off for Bournemouth in their Premier League defeat to Wolves the previous week.
It was Andoni Iraola’s side who took the lead half an hour when Evanilson tapped in to an empty net after Antoine Semenyo’s shot had been parried by opposition goalkeeper Sam Johnstone.
The Cherries thought they had made it 2-0 shortly after from a corner, but a long VAR check, eventually ruled the goal out when Dean Huijsen was ruled offside when Milos Kerkez’ header deflected in off him.
That moment proved costly for Bournemouth, as Wolves pulled level on the hour-mark courtesy of a stunning long-range effort from Matheus Cunha, who had also scored the winner the week before.
That would prove to be enough to ensure the match ended 1-1 after 90 minutes, ensuring the encounter would go to extra time.
Bournemouth continued to push for a winner in extra time, and there was though late drama after Matheus Cunha was sent off for the visitors after lashing out with a headbutt at Milos Kerkez.
Despite that, the hosts were unable to find a winner, ensuring the game went to penalties, where misses from Huijsen and Matt Doherty took the shootout to sudden death after five penalties each.
But after Boubacar Traore then crashed Wolves’ sixth penalty against the crossbar, Luis Sinisterra made himself the hero for Bournemouth, converting the subsequent penalty to win the shootout 5-4.
| Bournemouth last five games | Results |
| Everton (A) | Won 2-0 |
| Southampton (A) | Won 3-1 |
| Wolves (H) | Lost 1-0 |
| Brighton (A) | Lost 2-1 |
| Wolves (H) | Drew 1-1 (won 5-4 on penalties) |
Here is how Football Insider rated the performances of the Bournemouth squad during that clash with Vitor Pereira’s side.
Kepa Arrizabalaga – 6
Did some decent work early on but was less troubled as the game continued, beaten from range for the equaliser.
Lewis Cook – 7
Got forward well from the right-back position to offer something else in attack for Bournemouth, missed a big chance to win it late in extra time.
James Hill – 6
A fairly steady performance in defence, less challenged as the game went on with Wolves seemingly happy to look for extra time and penalties.
Kepa Arrizabalaga wins another penalty shoot out
Dean Huijsen – 4
Will be as frustrated as anyone by the disallowed goal, and survived a VAR check for a denial of a goalscoring opportunity that ended up as a yellow card, saw his shootout penalty saved as well.
Milos Kerkez – 7
Another to be involved in the disallowed goal, but otherwise another decent display from Kerkez amid recent talk about a move to Liverpool.
Alex Scott (off for Sinisterra, ’84) – 6
A solid outing in the centre of the park without doing anything spectacular for the young midfielder.
Tyler Adams – 6
The American international looked to put himself about in the centre of the park as he often does.
David Brooks (off for Kluivert, ’67) – 5
Not a game in which the winger was really able to make a great deal happen for his side.
Marcus Tavernier – 6
Heavily involved early on in particular but seemed like he couldn’t quite find his range this afternoon, relieved to see his penalty just sneak past Johnstone.
Antoine Semenyo (off for Jebbison, ‘106) – 8 – Man of the Match
The winger was impressive throughout the afternoon in troubling the Wolves defence, showing why Semenyo has been linked with other clubs such as Newcastle.
Evanilson (off for Outtara, ’67) – 7
A clinically taken finish to open the scoring, Bournemouth will be delighted to have him back starting and scoring again.
Substitutes have a mixed impact for Bournemouth
Dango Outtara (on for Evanilson, ’67) – 7
Helped pose questions of the Wolves defence after coming on midway through the second half, scored an audacious penalty in the shootout.
Justin Kluivert (on for Brooks, ’67) – 5
Kluivert has been in excellent form for Bournemouth recently but couldn’t really find a clincial edge coming off the bench here.
Luis Sinisterra (on for Scott, ’84) – 7
Another attacking option who came off the bench to help work the Wolves defence impressively, before scoring the winning penalty in the shootout to make himself the hero.
Daniel Jebbison (on for Semenyo, ‘106) – 5
It was a surprise to see Semenyo taken off, and Jebbison didn’t pose the same threat after replacing him.