AFC Bournemouth celebrated their first European home match by beating Austria's Sturm Graz 3 nil. AFC Bournemouth celebrated their first European home match by beating Austria's Sturm Graz 3 nil.The Cherries took the lead in the 43rd minute at the Vitality Stadium when Evanilson met a cross from the right with a header that cleared the goalkeeper and dropped into the far corner of the net.Sturm Graz challenged Bournemouth after the break, but the home side increased their advantage in the 76th minute when goalkeeper Daniil Khudyakov failed to gather a corner, allowing Rayan to finish from clo
AFC Bournemouth celebrated their first European home match by beating Austria's Sturm Graz 3 nil.
The Cherries took the lead in the 43rd minute at the Vitality Stadium when Evanilson met a cross from the right with a header that cleared the goalkeeper and dropped into the far corner of the net.
Sturm Graz challenged Bournemouth after the break, but the home side increased their advantage in the 76th minute when goalkeeper Daniil Khudyakov failed to gather a corner, allowing Rayan to finish from close range.
Another opportunity came in stoppage time after Jon Gorenc Stankovic was penalised for handball while blocking a shot from James Hill, with Álvaro Rodríguez converting the resulting penalty for his first Bournemouth goal.
Former Premier League midfielder Robbie Savage told TNT Sports that Bournemouth had “controlled the game in the first half”, describing the result as a “good night, good performance” for the Cherries.
Following their victory over Real Sociedad in September, Bournemouth have now won both Europa League matches, with a Premier League home game against Sunderland on Sunday followed by a visit from AC Milan next Thursday.
