Bournemouth continued their impressive start to the UEFA Europa League campaign with a convincing 3-0 victory over Sturm Graz at the Vitality Stadium on Thursday.
Goals from Evanilson, Rayan and Álvaro Rodríguez secured the victory for the Premier League side, who recorded their second consecutive win in the competition.
Evanilson opened the scoring shortly before half-time, Rayan doubled the advantage in the second half, while Rodríguez completed the rout with a stoppage-time penalty.
Bournemouth dominated proceedings from the opening minutes, with Ben Gannon-Doak and Marcus Tavernier causing problems for the visitors’ defence.
Tavernier had an early opportunity to put the hosts ahead in the 12th minute after Adam Smith delivered a low cross into the penalty area.
However, the midfielder sent his effort over the crossbar.
Rodríguez also threatened but failed to find the target, while his attempted backheel was comfortably dealt with by Sturm Graz goalkeeper Daniil Khudyakov.
The Cherries thought they had broken the deadlock in the 28th minute when Bafodé Diakité turned the ball home from close range following an Evanilson header.
However, the goal was disallowed for handball.
Three minutes later, Tavernier came close again, striking the post with a curling effort from outside the box as Khudyakov watched helplessly.
Sturm Graz struggled to create meaningful chances, allowing Bournemouth to maintain control of the encounter.
The hosts eventually found the breakthrough in the 43rd minute through a superb header from Evanilson.
After Gannon-Doak helped move the ball to Smith, the right-back delivered an inviting cross into the box.
Evanilson rose to meet it from approximately 15 yards out and produced a powerful header that looped over Khudyakov into the top corner.
Rayan, Rodríguez seal comfortable Bournemouth victory
Sturm Graz showed greater attacking intent after the interval, with Simon Seidl firing wide from a volley following a free-kick.
Bournemouth remained dangerous, however, as Tavernier continued to trouble the visitors’ defence and Evanilson came close to adding a second goal.
The Austrian side nearly restored parity in the 62nd minute when Stefan Heil unleashed a powerful effort that struck the post.
Bournemouth responded by introducing Justin Kluivert, Ryan Christie and Rayan as they sought to strengthen their advantage.
The substitutions paid off in the 76th minute when Rayan doubled the hosts’ lead.
Khudyakov failed to gather a cross into the penalty area, allowing the Brazilian substitute to turn and shoot from close range.
His effort slipped underneath the goalkeeper and crossed the line to make it 2-0.
Sturm Graz attempted to reduce the deficit, with Oumar Diakité sending an overhead kick wide after a long throw into the penalty area.
Kluivert also tested Khudyakov with a curling effort from the edge of the box, while James Hill came close with a header that deflected off teammate Silva.
Bournemouth eventually added a third in stoppage time after Hill’s shot struck the arm of Jon Gorenc Stanković inside the penalty area.
Rodríguez stepped up to take the resulting penalty and sent his effort down the middle.
Although Khudyakov managed to get a hand to the ball, he could not prevent it from entering the net.
The victory underlined Bournemouth’s attacking superiority, with the hosts registering 24 shots against Sturm Graz’s six and enjoying 62 per cent possession.
Bournemouth will now turn their attention to Sunday’s Premier League meeting with Sunderland before hosting AC Milan in their next Europa League fixture on October 22.
Sturm Graz, meanwhile, will look to respond when they welcome Marseille in their next European outing on the same date.
