Semenyo stars and Scott strikes as streetwise Bournemouth outlast Brighton 2-1

Bournemouth’s blend of intensity and composure earned a deserved 2-1 win over Brighton, a third successive victory that underlined Andoni Iraola’s side as quick starters. Alex Scott’s first league goal since December 2023 set the tone, and when Kaoru Mitoma briefly levelled, Antoine Semenyo settled it from the spot on 61 minutes.

This was not a free-flowing spectacle, but it was one Bournemouth largely controlled. Early injuries disrupted the visitors, and the Cherries’ front line—driven by Semenyo’s strength and movement—created the clearer first-half chances before showing the game management to see things through after retaking the lead.

Scott’s class sets the tone for an assertive first half

The breakthrough owed everything to Semenyo’s work and Scott’s poise. Semenyo plucked a difficult ball from the sky, protected it under pressure and slid a neat lay-off to the edge of the box, where Scott opened his body and swept a measured left-footer beyond Bart Verbruggen. The finish said as much about Bournemouth’s control as it did about Scott’s technique.

With Brighton reeling from the enforced withdrawals of Jack Hinshelwood and Maxim De Cuyper—injured after colliding with the hoardings—the Cherries drove on. David Brooks saw a shot blocked, Evanilson twice attacked Adrien Truffert crosses with headers (one over, one straight at the keeper) and Semenyo powered into the area only to slice wide under pressure. At the other end, Djordje Petrovic’s sharp stop from Yankuba Minteh was a rare moment of alarm.

Brighton’s rally answered by Semenyo’s nerve

Credit to the visitors: they flew out after half-time and were level within three minutes, Minteh bending a teasing ball to the far post for Mitoma to climb and head home. A deflected Minteh strike into the side-netting and a Danny Welbeck volley that shaved the far post followed in their best spell of the match.

Bournemouth, though, reset quickly. Lewis Dunk’s loose pass invited a counter, Evanilson burst into the area and was tripped by Jan Paul van Hecke. Semenyo shouldered the responsibility and coolly rolled the penalty down the middle as Verbruggen dived away—his third of the season and the game’s decisive act.

Truffert’s engine and Semenyo’s versatility drive the edge

Adrien Truffert was relentless down the left, doubling up to defend Brighton’s surges and providing a steady stream of service. That balance—secure behind, adventurous ahead—framed much of Bournemouth’s authority on the day and repeatedly put the Seagulls on the back foot.

Semenyo was everywhere: a creative fulcrum in the first half, then the finisher from 12 yards. Iraola highlighted how the Ghanaian has been used on both wings and as a late number nine, praising the level he is delivering. The end product matched the work-rate, a hallmark of this side’s early-season poise.

A debut to remember, and a measured finish to match

Thrown in by necessity with Bafodé Diakité sidelined, 18-year-old Veljko Milosavljevic became Bournemouth’s youngest-ever Premier League player and looked anything but overawed. Calm interventions and tidy distribution helped steady the back line during the decisive final half-hour.

Iraola kept his feet on the ground afterwards—rightly noting that it is “super, super early” and margins have been tight—but this was another controlled display. There were talking points around the decisions—the opener arriving while De Cuyper was off the pitch and differing views on the penalty—but Bournemouth’s sharper approach, clearer chances and steadfast closing made the outcome feel deserved.