Cherries stun Villa to win away
AFC Bournemouth
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- Martin Atkinson
AFC Bournemouth struck early and then defended bravely to claim a 2-1 win on their first Premier League away day of the season at Aston Villa.
Joshua King got the ball rolling, scoring with a coolly-taken penalty inside two minutes, and the lead was doubled when Harry Wilson fired home a deflected shot from range with the game still in its infancy.
Into the second half and a moment of magic from Douglas Luiz halved the deficit, the Brazilian bending home a fantastic strike into the top corner.
While speedy attacks came from the visitors strong late defending was required all the way to the final whistle and the away side were able to see out their win to secure a fine road victory.
Eddie Howe made two changes to his side from the Cherries' opener, Diego Rico and Chris Mepham dropping out with Charlie Daniels in at left-back among a four-man defence and on-loan Harry Wilson making his debut after impressing in training.
In bright West Midlands sunshine, the Cherries kicked-off their away programme in their sharp green third kit, and inside 45 seconds had a penalty kick, Tom Heaton sweeping away Callum Wilson's feet as he chased a pass towards the byline.
King took the responsibility and swept a shot home into the bottom left-hand corner, Bournemouth leading before Villa had touched the ball in their Premier League return at Villa Park.
Quick to respond, Aaron Ramsdale smartly tipped over a arrowed John McGinn 25-yarder, and with the match very open a Ryan Fraser-led attack was worked well and into a corner that the home side were able to clear.
The Cherries' one-goal lead became two in the 12th minute, Harry Wilson finding the net from range. Trezeguet gave the ball away on the edge of his box, the debutant took control and struck a shot that took a telling deflection off former Bournemouth defender Tyrone Mings and wriggled into the back of the net via the post.
Anwar El Ghazi wastefully sent a dangerously-placed free-kick over the bar, though with the ball flashing from end to end the visitors almost scored again when a Callum Wilson cross was sliced narrowly wide of his own post by Douglas Luiz.
Ramsdale made a good stop to repel McGinn who had time to get a shot away in the area, and the young 'keeper was required again to punch away a cross and then push out a deflected shot at his near post.
The tension was rising on the run in to half time, Philip Billing receiving a yellow card for his protests and moments later tackling Jack Grealish and risking a second.
McGinn came close again as he blasted into the side netting, while just ahead of the interval Callum Wilson made tracks into the box, found Harry Wilson and the winger's poked shot needed to be well saved by Heaton.
There was still time, however, for Villa to threaten again, Wesley powerfully forcing his way to the byline and cutting back for Trezeguet whose shot from eight yards was swept away brilliantly by Nathan Ake, recovering in front of Ramsdale and ensuring the Cherries kept their two-goal lead into half time.
Andrew Surman was introduced for the start if the second half in place of Billing, with a VAR check soon incoming as Wesley thought he might be due a penalty after contact from Ramsdale, the officials disagreed and the game continued.
Villa were still pressing, Grealish swerving a shot wide from just outside the area. Neil Taylor was the next to go close, collecting cross at the back post, shooting but seeing Steve Cook block the ball behind.
The home thrust was leaving space in defence though and as Fraser fed a through ball forwards to King a well-timed Mings covering tackle was the only thing that stopped the Norwegian's route to goal.
Grealish headed over wastefully after Ahmed El Mohamady invited him to score with an inswinging centre, Ramsdale solid again in the 66th minute when he saved down to his left from Trezeguet.
Five minutes later the noise level at Villa Park grew as a fine goal brought the hosts back into the contest. New signing Douglas Luiz aimed for and found the postage stamp after a corner was worked to him outside the box.
Dominic Solanke replaced the impressive Harry Wilson, and into the final ten minutes the striker's strong hold-up play released Fraser who raced through on goal but saw his shot saved low by Heaton.
Another away break ended with Fraser forcing a good tipped save from Heaton, the Cherries looking to see out time by maintaining possession.
Loudly buoyed by the travelling support, the five minutes of added time slowly ticked down and for the second time in the Premier League, AFC Bournemouth left Villa Park with a stunning 2-1 victory.