AFC Bournemouth continued their impressive run under manager Andoni Iraola, securing a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Brighton & Hove Albion at the Vitality Stadium. The win marks the Cherries’ third consecutive Premier League victory, a feat not seen since December 2024.
Brighton’s afternoon started with immediate setbacks. Just moments into the match, an injury to Jack Hinshelwood forced an early substitution, disrupting the Seagulls’ rhythm. Bournemouth quickly capitalized, with Antoine Semenyo setting up Alex Scott, who fired the ball past goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen to give the home side a 1-0 lead.
Brighton’s injury woes continued when Maxim De Cuyper was also forced off, leading to a second unplanned substitution in the first half. Bournemouth comfortably maintained their lead into the break.
In the second half, Brighton found their way back into the game. Just four minutes after the restart, Kaoru Mitoma rose to head in an equalizer at the front post, shifting the momentum. However, just as the Seagulls began to build pressure, their hopes were dashed. Jan Paul van Hecke was called for a foul in the box, and Semenyo stepped up to calmly convert the penalty, securing his third league goal of the season and restoring Bournemouth’s lead.
Despite several more chances for Bournemouth to extend their lead, Semenyo’s penalty proved to be the deciding factor. The win is only Bournemouth’s second victory in seven head-to-head meetings against Brighton.
The result provisionally lifts Iraola’s men into the top four, defying pre-season expectations of a relegation battle. For Brighton, the defeat means back-to-back away losses in the Premier League.
