Antoine Semenyo lit up the Vitality Stadium on Monday night with a goal inside the opening minute, securing a vital 1-0 win for Bournemouth against Fulham and ending the Cherries’ six-game winless streak in the Premier League.

The Ghanaian forward wasted no time making his mark, capitalizing on a defensive lapse by Fulham’s Antonee Robinson just 53 seconds into the match. After intercepting a loose pass from Alex Scott, Semenyo showed composure and sharpness as he cut inside and slotted a precise left-footed finish into the bottom corner. It was his 10th goal of the season, and perhaps his most important yet, reigniting Bournemouth’s push for European football.

Despite dominating nearly 60% of possession and crafting several dangerous opportunities, Fulham were unable to find a response. Bournemouth’s shot-stopper Kepa Arrizabalaga was in fine form, pulling off a string of crucial saves to deny Ryan Sessegnon and Alex Iwobi, preserving the home side’s slender advantage.

The match wasn’t without controversy. Fulham manager Marco Silva expressed frustration after a substitution mix-up saw Ryan Sessegnon taken off instead of the intended player. Silva claimed his instructions were misunderstood by the officials, further compounding Fulham’s frustrations on a night that could have seen them strengthen their own European hopes.

The victory lifts Bournemouth to eighth in the Premier League table, level on points with both Fulham and Brighton but ahead on goal difference. With six matches still to play, this marks Bournemouth’s highest-ever points tally in the top flight, a testament to their steady progress under manager Andoni Iraola.

Speaking after the game, Semenyo acknowledged the significance of the result. “The win was definitely vital for us,” he told Sky Sports. “The manager has been saying all week that it’s a make-or-break game. We came in wanting to give our all, and the celebrations at the end showed how much it meant.”

As the season enters its decisive phase, Bournemouth’s resurgence injects fresh excitement into the battle for European qualification. For Fulham, the challenge now is to regroup swiftly and get back on track if they hope to finish in the league’s top eight.