Bournemouth beat Sturm Graz in first ever home European game
Bournemouth's history-making season continued on Thursday as they played - and won - their first-ever home European match, beating Sturm Graz 3-0 in the Europa League.
Match report as Bournemouth win their first-ever home European game, beating Sturm Graz; Evanilson scored at the end of the first half to hand the Cherries the lead; Rayan and an Alvaro Rodriguez penalty added after the break; Bournemouth face AC Milain in the Europa League next Thursday
Bournemouth's history-making season continued on Thursday as they played - and won - their first-ever home European match, beating Sturm Graz 3-0 in the Europa League.
It makes it two wins from two for the competition debutants and perhaps more importantly, they held on to a lead they took towards the end of the first half - something they have been unable to do in a poor start to the Premier League.
Evanilson will go down as the man who scored the first European goal at the Vitality Stadium and it was a thing of beauty. Adam Smith - captaining a team he joined in England's third tier 16 years ago - found him with a cross, with the Brazilian curling a powerful header past the goalkeeper from 15 yards out.
Sturm Graz came out with intent at the start of the second half and could have equalised just after the hour. Jurgen Heil smashed the woodwork before Djorde Petrovic was needed to keep out Jacob Hodl's follow-up.
But the Cherries rode the wave and doubled their lead through another Brazilian, Rayan. It was a howler from Daniil Khudyakov, whose spilled save from a corner landed to the Bournemouth forward. His low, fizzing shot then sped through the goalkeeper's outstretched hands.
And in second-half added time, Bournemouth were awarded a penalty. Former Huddersfield man Jon Gorenc Stankovic was penalised for a foul on James Hill - also coming in the aftermath of a Bournemouth corner.
Summer signing Alvaro Rodriguez stepped up to chip the spot kick in for his first Bournemouth goal, sealing another three points. It puts the Cherries fifth in the Europa League league phase table ahead of welcoming Ruben Amorim's AC Milan to the Vitality next Thursday.
12: CHANCE! Smith curls in a wonderful cross for the incoming Tavernier, but he's defended well as his attempt goes wide.
29: NO GOAL! The ball is in the back of the net for Bournemouth - but it's immediately ruled out for a handball against Bafode Diakate.
33: OFF THE POST!! Tavernier's curling effort hits the woodwork.
41: PENALTY?! REFEREE SAYS NO! Sturm Graz have their best attack of the half, with calls for a penalty after Beganovic goes down. He is unfairly booked after, but looked to already be losing his footing as Smith made contact.
43: GOAL! Evanilson gives Bournemouth the lead with an incredible curling header from some distance.
63: OFF THE POST! SAVE! Heil hits the post with a thunderous effort from the right, before Hodl's follow-up is stopped by Djorde Petrovic's legs.
76: GOAL! Rayan's low, hard shot beats Khudyakov after some poor goalkeeping.
90+2: PENALTY SCORED! Stankovic fouls Hill as he strikes inside the box and Bournemouth are awarded a penalty. Rodriguez scores from the spot.
