Bournemouth overpower Fulham to move into top half

Updated: Dec 26, 2023, 05:31 pm

A resurgent Bournemouth moved into the top half of the Premier League standings with a 3-0 home win over Fulham on Tuesday thanks to goals by Justin Kluivert, Dominic Solanke and Luis Sinisterra.

Andoni Iraola's side were winless in their first nine league games of the season, but the suspended Spaniard watching the contest from the stands was all smiles as they sealed their sixth win in seven matches.

- Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.)

The result moved Bournemouth up to 10th with 25 points from 18 matches while Fulham are 13th following their third straight defeat without scoring.

Bournemouth had numerous chances early on, with Fulham's Tosin Adarabioyo denying Kluivert with a lunging block around the half-hour mark.

GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images

A minute later, an out-of-position Bernd Leno in Fulham's goal spilled the ball but Solanke's shot was deflected for a corner by Adarabioyo's header.

Bournemouth increased the pressure on Fulham, earning back-to-back corners over the next few minutes, and their efforts finally paid off just before halftime.

Alex Scott took the ball along the halfway line and sprinted right through the Fulham defence to set up Kluivert's shot that was hit directly at Leno, but the Germán could not hold on to it as the deadlock was broken at Vitality Stadium.

Bournemouth doubled their lead after the hour-mark when João Palhinha's foul on Antonie Semenyo gave the home side a rare penalty, their first in nearly 20 months, which Solanke converted for his 12th league goal of the season.

Solanke moved level with Liverpool's Mohamed Salah in the league's scoring charts, two behind top scorer Erling Haaland of Manchester City.

With Fulham down and out, second-half substitute Sinisterra put the cherry on top when he curled in their third goal in stoppage time to seal the win.

Bournemouth visit Tottenham  on Sunday while Fulham host Arsenal.