Almanac Soccer: Premier League Matchweek 10 Highlights

 

Premier League Matchweek 10 Highlights 24/25

 

Matchweek 10 saw a weekend filled with major upsets, cracking goals and even more late drama. Here are my highlights of the week.

 

 

Bournemouth vs Manchester City

 

The second game of matchweek 10 saw Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth host Pep Guardiola’s,top of the table, Manchester City at the Vitality Stadium. After having a huge chance saved early on, the Cherries found a fully deserved opener inside 10 minutes. Bournemouth’s young full back, Milos Kerkez, made a strong run down the left wing, taking the ball across the goal line before squaring it to Antonie Semenyo. The Ghanaian showed brilliant strength to hold off Josko Gvardiol before he rolled the ball into the bottom right corner on the spin. It was fair to say it was an even half in terms of big chances, with Erling Haaland missing with a volley from point blank range just before the interval. At half time the score remained 1-0 with Bournemouth threatening to turn over another title contending team at the Vitality.

 

Bournemouth were showing no signs of slowing down as Evanilson almost scored with just 30 seconds on the clock in the 2nd half. Finally, in the 64th minute, the Cherries doubled their advantage after the sliding Evanilson was able to find the bottom left corner after his outstretched boot met Kerkez’s ball across the penalty area. It was a brilliant goal which could prove costly in City’s title charge. The hosts came so very close to sealing a famous win over the Citizens when Marcus Tavernier hit the post from outside the penalty area before Adam Smith put the ball over the bar with the goal gaping. City pounced on Smith’s miss just minutes later when their goal scoring defender, Gvardiol, put the ball past Mark Travers with a brilliant header into the top left corner from the cross of Ilkay Gundogan. Pep’s side then hit top gear, with Travers being forced into some big saves in the next few minutes, stopping Jeremy Doku’s shot from finding the bottom corner and keeping out an Erling Haaland header from point blank range. With just seconds to play in stoppage time, City created one last chance after Rico Lewis found Phil Foden outside the penalty area. Foden composed himself before thrashing a shot at Travers’ goal, watching as the ball fizzed agonisingly wide of the post. With that being the last action of the tie, Bournemouth saw the game out 2-1 winning their first Premier League game over Manchester City and ending their 33 game unbeaten run. The Cherries sit 9th in the table on a solid 15 points. City dropped to 2nd after Liverpool won earlier on, but Pep will blame this game on a growing list of vital injured players.

 

 

Tottenham Hotspur vs Aston Villa

 

The first game played on Sunday in matchweek 10 saw Ange Postecoglu’s Tottenham host Unai Emery’s Aston Villa at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. After a slow start to proceedings for the hosts, Aston Villa started to create chances. Eventually, the Villains stole the lead in the 32nd minute when they exposed Tottenham Hotspurs inability to defend set pieces. John McGinn’s corner was not dealt with by the Spurs defenders or keeper and their own Pedro Porro flicked the ball over right into the path of Morgan Rodgers who had an uncontested net to smash the ball into. At half time, the score was standing at 0-1 with Tottenham staring down consecutive league defeats.

 

Ange’s side then found a much needed equaliser just minutes into the 2nd half through Brennan Johnson, who has been brilliant in front of goal this season. Skipper Son Heung-Min whipped in a brilliant cross from the left wing to the back post where Johnson was able to tap the ball past the recent Yashin Trophy winner (Best goalkeeper in the world), Emiliano Martinez. Spurs completed their turnaround in the 75th minute after they finally broke the resilient Villa defence for the second time in the afternoon. Pape Sarr played a nice ball into the path of Johnson whose deft touch gave Dejan Kulusevski time and space outside the penalty area. The Swede then played a quality reverse pass to Dominic Solanke who had timed his run to perfection. The ex-Cherry then dinked the ball over the outcoming Martinez to give Spurs the lead. Four minutes later Solanke completed his brace and sealed the 3 points for the hosts. Sarr was once again heavily involved, intercepting a poor pass from Pau Torres before driving into the penalty area and spreading the ball wide to Richarlison. The Brazilian drilled the ball dangerously across the 6 yard area where Solanke was able to bundle the ball over the line making it 3-1. Tottenham finished the game off in style when James Maddison left his calling card on the pitch with only seconds to play. The hosts won a free kick just outside the penalty area which Maddison took quickly, beautifully curling the ball into the top right corner and leaving Martinez with no chance of saving it. At full time the score finished 4-1 with Spurs turning over 2 of last season’s top 4 in the past week (Man.City 2-1 in the Carabao cup Rd of 16). Ange’s side sit 7th in the table on 16 points, 2 points behind Emery’s Villa who sit in 6th. 

 

 

Fulham vs Brentford

 

The curtain draw to the 10th week of the 24/25 Premier League campaign saw Marco Silva’s Fulham host Thomas Frank’s Brentford in what looked like an exciting Monday night fixture at Craven Cottage. After a promising start from the Cottagers, it was actually the Bees who took a shock lead in the 24th minute through Vitaly Janelt. The German received the ball from Christian Norgaard about 25 yards out where he shaped to shoot on his favoured left boot. Janelt hit it wonderfully, watching as it bent around Fulham keeper Bernd Leno and rolled down the far side netting. Fulham continued to dominate afterwards but failed to score meaning Brentford went into halftime as 0-1 leaders, with Marco SIlva left frustrated his team couldn’t convert.

 

Fulham were once again the dominant side in the 2nd half, with Thomas Frank subbing off star attackers such as Yoanne Wissa and Bryan Mbuemo to put more defensive players on the pitch to keep the hosts at bay. Finally, in the 2nd minute of stoppage time, the Cottagers scored a fully deserved equaliser. It was the 2 subs, Adama Traore and Harry Wilson, who combined to score the goal, Traore crossing the ball in and Wilson with the acrobatic backheel, to poke the ball past the so far unbeatable Mark Flekken in the Brentford net. Wilson’s goal then sprung the Bees back into life, with ex Fulham midfielder, Fabio Carvalho, coming so close to scoring on his return to Craven Cottage. Mads Roerslev played a direct and dangerous ball across the penalty area where Carvalho drew a strong save off the wrist of the German Leno. Then, with quite possibly the last touch of the fixture, Antonee Robinson chipped the ball into the penalty area with referee Stuart Atwell seconds away from blowing his whistle. With the majority of Craven Cottage left with their hearts in their throats, the super sub Wilson threw himself at the American’s cross, watching as his spectacular headed effort found the top corner, completing one of the great Premier League comebacks. With that the last effort of the game, the hosts won an exhilarating game at the Cottage, taking them to 9th in the league with Wilson the protagonist. Frank’s side will be distraught they threw away a lead they had worked so hard to protect as the Bees sit 12th in the league, this time on the wrong end of a superb Premier League fight back.

 

 

Written by Ollie Wade – Read the rest of Matchweek 10 at Premier League Matchweek 10 24/25 – Kickoff chronicles

 

 

Ollie Wade is a Grade 11 student who dabbles in sports writing, He plays for the Barossa United Senior Men’s Team.

 

To return to our Footy Almanac home page click HERE.

 

Our writers are independent contributors. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own. They are not the views, nor do they reflect the views, of Malarkey Publications.

 

Do you enjoy the Almanac concept?

And want to ensure it continues in its current form, and better? To help things keep ticking over please consider making your own contribution.

Become an Almanac (annual) member – click HERE.