Bournemouth‘s hopes of Europa League glory look as strong as they travelled for Thursday night’s win at Sparta Prague: going far.
Their come from behind 3-1 victory over their 10-man opponents was their furthest-ever away competitive fixture at 714 miles. For context, before this season a game in the north of England was their limit. Now it’s the sky – especially for the travelling 1,000 fans who witnessed the visitors maintain their 100 per cent start in the competition.
After stunning AC Milan last month, the Cherries eventually swatted away Sparta to make another statement in their European debut season thanks to second-half goals from Tyler Adams, Evanilson and Rayan. All three came on as second-half substitutes to underline the quality that Marco Rose has at his disposal.
Rose, who made eight changes to his XI that had beaten Leeds 2-0 in the Premier League on Saturday, will be delighted with his side’s fight but will also thank Sparta centre back Tobias Guddal who inexplicably got himself in the first half for two avoidable yellow cards.
Prior to Guddal’s dismissal, the hosts were in the ascendancy and looked the opposite of an under-pressure side who had only won one of their last five matches in all competitions.
They should have taken the lead inside the opening two minutes but Jonatan Braut Brunes, Erling Haaland‘s maternal cousin, inexplicably put wide a tap-in from Josimar Alcocer’s brilliant cross down the left flank.
Evanilson was on the scoresheet as Bournemouth came from behind to win at Sparta Prague
Minutes later Brunes produced a bit of skill more akin to his cousin, as the striker pinned his marker before firing a goalbound shot with his left foot that was brilliantly blocked by Bournemouth captain Adam Smith.
As Bournemouth looked to break, Ben Gannon-Doak was brought down by Guddal resulting in him being booked on six minutes.
Sparta were causing problems for Bournemouth through their wingers Alcocer and Ebrima Singhateh’s pace, directness and trickery. However, it was Bournemouth who had the next most gilt-edge opportunity to take the lead after being awarded a penalty midway through the first half.
Former Liverpool and on loan Wolves defender Ki-Jana Hoever was booked for a handball as he stopped a David Brooks flicked pass in the penalty area. Lewis Cook, who was the Cherries fourth different penalty taker in the competition this season, fooled Sparta goalkeeper Jakub Surovcik with his stutter run-up but saw his low effort hit the inside of the left-hand post before rolling behind a stranded Surovcik and go out for a goal-kick.
If that was unlucky, there was no element of luck involved at how the deadlock was broken by Singhateh.
A Bournemouth corner saw a Sparta counter-attack as Surovcik threw the ball out to the pacy winger. Singhateh showed his strength as he rolled Cook off-the-ball before beginning his run inside his own half. Running with such speed he then stunningly slalomed Adam Smith and Lewis Cook on the edge of the area to find himself one-on-one with Bournemouth goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio.
Singhateh, who was Sparta’s first signing of the summer, showed his composure as he slotted the ball past Di Gregorio with aplomb. It was a goal befitting of the Champions League, let alone the Europa League.
As quickly as the epet ARENA burst into song, the joyous home fans soon fell silent as Guddal was shown a second yellow card for a ridiculous rugby-style hold on Bournemouth striker Alvaro Rodriguez. It would have not looked out of place at the Nations Championship which resumes this weekend.
Rose turned to his bench at the interval with Adams coming on for Smith and 12 minutes later that substitution was an inspired one as the American levelled for Bournemouth.
A loose pass from defender Loic Mbe Soh was pounced upon by Amine Adli who played in Rodriguez. The striker was unable to get a shot away but the ball fell kindly on the edge of the box to Adams who chose precision over power to hit a first-time shot into the bottom far corner of the goal.
Bournemouth smelt blood and Rose turned to his bench as he pushed for a second goal with the likes of Evanilson, Rayan and Adrien Truffert all coming on. And the trio all played a part in the next two goals. First Truffert’s pressure forced Sparta substitute Santiago Eneme to make an error as he gave the ball to Ryan Christie on the edge of his own area. Christie’s pass found Evanilson who opened his body up and curled a finish along the ground into the far corner with no backlift. It was a sublime finish and a worthy matchwinner.
However, the Brazilian wasn’t done there as he then turned provider to set up Rayan to score from distance with a low left-footed shot.
It’s now seven wins out of their last seven in all competitions for Bournemouth as their rich vein of form continues – and four out of four in the Europa League. With Celta Vigo away next after the international break, don’t be surprised if it’s five out of five.
Crystal Palace 1-1 Hoffenheim
By Will Pickworth at Selhurst Park
As the fourth official indicated three minutes of added time, Pierre Sage may have been cursing his luck on the Selhurst Park touchline.
Although he has undoubtedly been hampered by the lengthy absences of Jean-Philippe Mateta, Ismaila Sarr and Dean Henderson at points this season, plus a summer transfer strategy that left him shorn of experience and quality in key areas, the Frenchman was approaching a record of eight defeats in 13 league and European games as Crystal Palace manager.
Two seasons ago, Palace’s hierarchy kept faith with Oliver Glasner when his side won one of their first 13 games – a run that preceded the greatest 18 months in the club’s history – but Sage was running out of time to prove he deserved a similar show of faith.
Enter Daichi Kamada, Palace’s best player on the night, as he slotted Tyrick Mitchell’s headed pull-back through the legs of Hoffenheim goalkeeper Oliver Baumann to rescue a valuable point after Alexander Prass’ seventh-minute opener.
Make no bones about it, this was a lifeline for Sage on a night that had previously felt like it could precede the final days of his tenure, and he must summon an improved display against Liverpool this weekend.
There was nothing to quite sum up Palace’s predicament like Prass’ opener. Having started well – with Kamada having a goal ruled out for offside – Quinten Timber saw a penalty appeal waved away before the out-of-form Adam Wharton was dispossessed just outside Hoffenheim’s box.
The German side broke forward at electric speed, Honest Ahanor dived in, and Prass’ effort squirmed through Dean Henderson.
It was an all too familiar story as Palace’s defence again looked ill-equipped for the challenge in hand. Ahanor, Jaydee Canvot and Anan Khalaili are promising players, but the cumulative lack of experience and knowhow is putting their backline through too much strain right now.
The hosts were careless on the ball too, doing little to improve the subdued atmosphere at Selhurst Park, and although Yeremy Pino and Kamada spurned good chances, Hoffenheim had appeared to manage the game expertly.
Palace’s frustration was demonstrated by four yellow cards in seven second-half minutes, before Wharton received a second shortly after to compound their misery.
The home faithful threatened to turn restless and it looked like the night would end in disappointment, until Kamada’s strike ensured Sage fights on for now.
