Antoine Semenyo may have signed off at Bournemouth in the most dramatic fashion imaginable, firing a stunning stoppage-time winner to condemn Tottenham Hotspur to a painful 3-2 defeat at the Vitality Stadium and heap fresh pressure on head coach Thomas Frank.
The Cherries’ leading scorer, heavily linked with a £65 million move to Manchester City, had been quiet for much of the contest before curling home his 10th goal of the campaign in the fifth minute of added time to end Bournemouth’s 11-game winless run.
Tottenham appeared to have rescued a point when Joao Palhinha produced an acrobatic bicycle kick late on, cancelling out first-half strikes from Evanilson and Junior Kroupi that had overturned Mathys Tel’s early opener.
But Semenyo’s late intervention ensured Spurs left the south coast empty-handed, leaving Frank with just two league wins from 12 matches and increasing unrest among the club’s supporters.
Despite the victory, Bournemouth remain 15th in the table, though they closed the gap to Tottenham to just one point.
Spurs played with black armbands in tribute to club legend Martin Chivers, who passed away aged 80, with travelling fans chanting his name throughout the evening.
Frank made five changes following Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Sunderland, a match that ended amid boos from frustrated supporters. His side made the perfect start when Tel broke the deadlock inside five minutes, cutting in from the left after a clever backheel from Xavi Simons and driving a low shot past Djordje Petrovic.
Bournemouth responded strongly and drew level in the 22nd minute. After Alex Jimenez kept an attack alive, Marcus Tavernier whipped in an inviting cross from the right which Evanilson glanced into the far corner with a fine header.
Lucas Bergvall came close to restoring Spurs’ lead with a long-range effort before the hosts completed the turnaround nine minutes before the interval.
Tavernier again delivered dangerously from the right, and although Semenyo missed the initial cross, Marcos Senesi recycled possession for Kroupi to finish emphatically into the top corner.
Tottenham regrouped after the break but suffered a setback when Bergvall was forced off injured, with Wilson Odobert introduced in his place.
Richarlison was later summoned from the bench and almost made an immediate impact, striking the post from close range after Tel’s corner had been flicked on.
A penalty initially awarded to Spurs was overturned following a VAR review, which showed Micky van de Ven had gone to ground too easily inside the area.
However, Tottenham’s pressure eventually told when Palhinha spectacularly equalised from a corner, hooking the ball home to spark celebrations among the away support.
Spurs pressed for a winner, with Van de Ven testing Petrovic from close range, but it was Bournemouth who delivered the decisive blow.
Deep into stoppage time, Semenyo unleashed a swerving strike from distance that nestled into the bottom corner, sealing a memorable victory.
The Ghana international was later withdrawn to a standing ovation and returned to the pitch after full-time to acknowledge the home fans, who serenaded him in what could prove to be a final appearance at the Vitality Stadium.
