Bournemouth took one step closer to European qualification with a dominant 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace.
An own-goal by Jefferson Lerma, a controversial Eli Junior Kroupi penalty and cool finish from Rayan separated the two sides on a sunny afternoon at the Vitality Stadium, as the Cherries climbed into 6th place in the Premier League.
Daily Mail Sport’s CIARAN FOREMAN analysed the action.
MAGIC IRAOLA
If you told any Bournemouth fan they’d lose star players like Antoine Semenyo, Milos Kerkez and Dean Huijsen and still finish in the top half, they’d have first asked if you were losing your mind – and then dispatched you to find the nearest miracle worker.
As it turns out, Andoni Iraola is the man with the magic touch.
Not only are the Cherries in the top 10, their outgoing boss has them on the brink of European qualification for the first time in their history.
Jefferson Lerma scored an own-goal to give Bournemouth the lead against Crystal Palace
Eli Junior Kroupi scored the second goal from the spot, taking him to 12 for the season
This win over Palace extended their unbeaten run to 15 Premier League games – the best current run in the top-flight – putting them one point ahead of Brentford and in a commanding position to secure Europa League or Conference League football.
It is bittersweet that Iraola won’t be the man to lead them on their travels next year – the Spaniard leaving the club at the end of the season to be replaced by former RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund boss Marco Rose.
But should he qualify Bournemouth for Europe, he may well surpass Eddie Howe as Bournemouth’s greatest-ever boss.
And with murmurings of Chelsea and Manchester United keeping tabs on Iraola this summer, he is sure to receive a hero’s welcome whenever returning to the south coast.
A VAR-CE?
While the football played here was fast-paced, incisive, and thoroughly entertaining throughout the 90 minutes, this was a game that would still infuriate football purists.
The opening goal was fortuitous – Palace midfielder Lerma inadvertently heading into his own net while attempting to clear Evanilson’s effort, with goal-line technology confirming the ball had crossed the line despite Dean Henderson’s best efforts.
But the second goal came through the awarding of a penalty that left Oliver Glasner incensed on the touchline.
After catching a long-throw, Palace goalkeeper Henderson spilled the ball after colliding with Jaydee Canvot in his box, and Cherries defender Marcos Senesi was quickest to react before falling down in pursuit of the ball.
Referee Robert Jones pointed to the spot and at first glance it looked like Henderson had taken a swipe at the Argentine. Though on second, third and even fourth viewing – thanks to VAR – it appeared clear that there was minimal – if any – contact.
Marcos Senesi appeared to go down with minimal contact for Bournemouth’s penalty
Yet the penalty was given by VAR and, to Eli Junior Kroupi’s credit, finished well into the bottom left corner. The young Frenchman now has 12 Premier League goals for the season – the most ever scored by a teenager in his debut season in the top-flight.
EAGLES ALL IN FOR EUROPE
Given the Eagles’ exploits on Thursday evening – winning 3-1 away to Shakhtar in the Conference League semi-final – it was no surprise to see Glasner make five changes to his squad for this tie.
However, the lack of depth in the Austrian’s squad is beginning to show after a long season.
A frontline without star man Jean-Philippe Mateta saw Palace struggle to even muster a shot in the first 45, before Glasner turned to his bench at half-time to make three changes.
While there was an increased tempo after the restart, the exploits from that win in Krakow were visible and Bournemouth were content to handle Palace’s lack of killer instinct.
As they ran out of steam, the hosts capitalised and added a third with 13 minutes to go through Brazilian teenager Rayan, who latched onto a David Brooks ball in behind before slotting home.
That said, the Palace fans who had made the journey from south London did not care. They sang long into the afternoon about being on their way to Leipzig, where the Conference League final will be held in just over three weeks.
This was no more than a day out for those supporters, who are basking in the final weeks of Glasner’s tenure before he too departs at the end of a season after a long and – at times – ugly goodbye.
Who can blame them? These are still the glory days for Palace.
