Bournemouth closed out the Premier League season with a 2-0 victory over Leicester City on Sunday afternoon, thanks to a clinical late brace from Antoine Semenyo.
It was a first half utterly dominated by Bournemouth, but the match remained scoreless heading into the break, largely thanks to a series of stops from Leicester goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk, while the Foxes failed to offer any real attacking threat, though they did briefly think they had taken the lead when Oliver Skipp had the ball in the net, only for the offside flag to swiftly deny the midfielder.
Bournemouth's onslaught continued in the second 45 minutes, and Daniel Jebbison thought he had opened the scoring when he turned home from close range, only to be denied due to the ball going out of play, but the Cherries eventually found the breakthrough as Semenyo struck home to give them the lead.
The Cherries were not done there, though, as Semenyo scored once again with just two minutes remaining to double Bournemouth's lead and end the campaign on a positive note.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
Bournemouth close out what has been a largely fantastic season with a dominant victory against a Leicester City side that have endured a miserable campaign.
The Cherries may have failed to secure European football, but performances such as today will give them plenty of belief that they can push up the table in the next campaign.
Bournemouth will be hopeful that they can hold on to key players such as Semenyo, who starred today, and aim to build around them in the upcoming summer transfer window.
BOURNEMOUTH VS. LEICESTER CITY HIGHLIGHTS
74th min: Bournemouth 1-0 Leicester City (Antoine Semenyo)
© Iconsport
Semenyo has finally broken the deadlock!
A short corner is played back to Justin Kluivert and looped toward the back post, where Illia Zabarnyi rises highest and heads back into the centre of the area.
Semenyo is positioned perfectly as the ball falls to his feet, and his first-time effort is driven past the keeper and into the bottom left corner.
88th min: Bournemouth 2-0 Leicester City (Antoine Semenyo)
Semenyo has his and Bournemouth's second!
Boubakary Soumare is pressured into giving the ball away just outside the Leicester City box, with Dean Huijsen stealing possession and laying it off to Semenyo.
Semenyo takes one touch and fires towards goal, his strike flying past Stolarczyk and into the bottom left corner - a fabulous finish!
MAN OF THE MATCH - ANTOINE SEMENYO
© Imago
Semenyo, alongside Bournemouth, caps off a fantastic season with a lovely brace.
The forward not only scored twice, with two clinical finishes, but also threatened throughout the entire 90 minutes, with four shots and nine touches in the opposition area.
Semenyo will be slightly disappointed to not be leaving with the match ball today, having missed a major opportunity earlier on in the match.
BOURNEMOUTH VS. LEICESTER CITY MATCH STATS
Possession: Bournemouth 63%-37% Leicester City
Shots: Bournemouth 20-3 Leicester City
Shots on target: Bournemouth 7-0 Leicester City
Corners: Bournemouth 6-1 Leicester City
Fouls: Bournemouth 19-16 Leicester City
WHAT NEXT?
For Bournemouth, a lacklustre finish dashed any hopes of qualifying for European football this season, but Andoni Iraola will be aiming to build on their final-day victory and push toward the top eight next term.
Meanwhile, Leicester City, whose relegation from the top flight was already confirmed weeks ago, will head to the Championship aiming for an immediate return to the Premier League.
Ellis Stevens
