Relentless Cherries puncture Spurs’ perfect start as Evanilson strikes early in London

Bournemouth’s high‑octane press and an early, deflected finish from Evanilson earned a richly deserved 1-0 victory at Tottenham, ending Thomas Frank’s 100% Premier League start. The Brazilian struck inside the opening five minutes after Senesi split the hosts with a clever pass, his effort looping off Cristian Romero and beyond Guglielmo Vicario to set the tone for a one‑sided contest.

The visitors poured forward throughout, racking up 19 attempts with six on target and striking the crossbar, while a blunt Tottenham didn’t test Djordje Petrovic until Lucas Bergvall’s straightforward drive in the 68th minute. Even a stoppage‑time volley from Mathys Tel, teed up by Djed Spence, whistled wide to confirm a defeat that felt heavier than the scoreline.

An early punch that set the tone

Tottenham were stunned almost from kick-off. Senesi slid a through ball into Evanilson, with Djed Spence playing the striker onside, and the Brazilian’s low shot flicked off Romero to arc over Vicario. The goal, timed inside the first five minutes, hushed the stadium that had moments earlier welcomed new £51m signing Xavi Simons during a pre‑match presentation.

It was a continuation of Bournemouth’s blistering starts under Andoni Iraola; a week after Marcus Tavernier netted inside four minutes against Wolves, the Cherries once again landed the first blow. From there, they controlled the tempo and the geography of the game, pushing Tottenham back with a ferocious press.

A pressing clinic Spurs couldn’t solve

Iraola’s hallmark—relentless, coordinated pressure—made it nearly impossible for Spurs to play out. Despite almost 60% possession before the break, Tottenham failed to register a single shot and won just 33% of their first‑half duels, a stark comedown from their slick triumph at Manchester City a week earlier.

João Palhinha, Rodrigo Bentancur and Pape Sarr, so influential at the Etihad, were repeatedly bypassed as Bournemouth swarmed second balls and jumped passing lanes. When Spurs did escape, they squandered rare platforms, as when Richarlison immediately returned possession after a Tyler Adams mistake.

Chances cascade, but profligacy keeps the door ajar

Bournemouth should have been out of sight. Evanilson fired narrowly wide after the opener, then Antoine Semenyo headed a sumptuous outside‑of‑the‑boot cross from David Brooks inches over. On the restart, Vicario produced a sharp save to deny Semenyo inside 60 seconds, before Brooks’s deflected effort clattered the crossbar amid chaos from a long throw.

Vicario also saved bravely at Evanilson’s feet and later thwarted Brooks, while Tottenham relied on last‑ditch interventions like Micky van de Ven’s block to stem the tide. The only frustration for the visitors was their finishing; everything else about their performance was assured.

Flashpoints and frayed nerves

The home crowd’s ire shifted toward referee Simon Hooper early in the second half when Semenyo—booked before the interval—was not shown a second yellow after tripping Richarlison. Soon after, Spence went into the book for a late foul on Bournemouth substitute Amine Adli, a day after the full‑back’s first senior England call‑up.

Thomas Frank, who admitted “Bournemouth played to their strengths and we didn’t handle it well enough,” gestured for calm as frustration grew and half‑time boos lingered. The themes were consistent: Bournemouth were first to everything; Tottenham struggled to find composure or field position.

A late flicker from Spurs, but Petrovic rarely troubled

Frank’s changes brought a modest uptick. Bergvall finally worked Petrovic with a firm effort from the edge of the box in the 68th minute, while Wilson Odobert blazed over when a loose ball sat up invitingly. It was, in truth, the exception rather than the rule as Bournemouth’s new‑look back line kept its shape despite losing captain Adam Smith to injury before the half‑hour.

The closest Spurs came was deep into stoppage time when Tel met Spence’s clipped cross on the volley, the strike skimming past by a foot. Petrovic’s gloves were spared any late heroics, and the Cherries saw out a win their enterprise fully merited.

Context and consequences

This was Tottenham’s first Premier League goal conceded and first defeat under Frank, a jolt after opening wins over Burnley and Manchester City. It also ended the chance to go top before the weekend’s remaining fixtures. Iraola, once courted by Spurs in the summer, could justifiably say, “I liked almost everything we did today.”

Bournemouth have now won back‑to‑back league matches for the first time since January and sit level on points with Tottenham—two victories from three for each. After the international break, Spurs visit West Ham on 13 September before hosting Villarreal in the Champions League, while Bournemouth return to the south coast for Brighton and then Newcastle at the Vitality.