Kroupi’s late volley keeps the Cherries’ best-ever start rolling at Elland Road

Bournemouth left Elland Road with a result that felt like a statement of resilience. Eli Junior Kroupi, on late from the bench, found space on the left and volleyed in an injury-time equaliser to secure a 2-2 draw, preserving the club’s best start to a Premier League season after six games and lifting Andoni Iraola’s side to third.

In a fierce, physical contest where all four goals came from set plays, the Cherries rode early pressure, struck first through Antoine Semenyo, then rallied again at the death. They struggled in aerial duels for stretches, but key contributions at both ends—from Djordje Petrovic’s stops to Kroupi’s composure—delivered a valuable point in a stadium where Bournemouth have still yet to win.

Semenyo’s craft and Petrovic’s resolve

The afternoon could have turned quickly against Bournemouth, but Petrovic denied Dominic Calvert-Lewin inside 15 seconds and won their duel across the first half. The goalkeeper’s sharp reactions and strong positioning kept Leeds at bay until the Cherries landed their opening blow.

That came on 26 minutes via Semenyo, who arrowed a low free-kick under a jumping wall and around the draft excluder, beating Karl Darlow at his near turf. It was his fourth goal of the season and Leeds’ first concession at home, a neat reminder of how detail at dead balls swings games.

Weathering Leeds’ set-piece surge

Leeds levelled shortly before the break when Sean Longstaff’s corner found the towering Joe Rodon, whose header took a nick and defeated Petrovic. Elland Road erupted, and Bournemouth’s grip loosened under the weight of deliveries and second balls.

The set-piece pressure told again eight minutes after half-time. Longstaff met a dropping ball at the top of the area and sent a precise half-volley in off the post to put Leeds 2-1 up. Iraola called it a very physical game and admitted his team ‘struggled in the duels, not only in set pieces’, while praising Leeds’ soul and relentlessness in those moments.

Senesi’s touch, Kroupi’s finish

Kroupi had already passed up one chance late on, a warning that Leeds did not fully heed. Iraola turned to his bench and his side kept pushing territory, forcing the hosts deeper as time ebbed away.

The breakthrough came from David Brooks’ free-kick. Marcos Senesi won a crucial first header, guiding the ball down for Kroupi, who was waiting on the left to guide a measured volley beyond Darlow in the third of five added minutes. Iraola praised the teenager’s finishing—he’s adapting fast from Ligue 2—and saluted Senesi’s initial contact that finally cracked Leeds’ rearguard.

A point with perspective

With 11 points after six games, Bournemouth sit third and can fairly claim their best start to a Premier League season. The opening-day loss to the champions remains their only league defeat, and while this performance was not the cleanest, the character to harvest something late was unmistakable.

The wait for a win at Elland Road goes on, but the draw is a worthwhile return from a tough venue. Focus now shifts to Fulham’s visit on Friday, 3 October (20:00), with Iraola seeking improvements in aerial duels while preserving the edge that keeps this promising opening rolling.