Premier League Matchweek 19 Highlights 24/25
Premier League Matchweek 19 saw a plethora of thrilling draws as well as some big upsets. Here are my highlighted results.
Fulham vs AFC Bournemouth
The following fixture of Matchweek 19 saw Marco Silva’s Fulham host Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth at Craven Cottage. After a positive start to the game for Bournemouth, new addition to the starting XI James Hill thought he’d scored to give the Cherries the lead when he headed home Ryan Christie’s corner delivery. Unfortunately for the travelling side, Hill’s goal was ridiculously disallowed by referee Robert Jones for a ghost foul in the penalty area. After soaking up all the Bournemouth pressure, Fulham found the opener from a corner in the 40th minute. Andreas Pereira whipped the ball in from the right flag where striker Raul Jimenez had made a late unmarked run into the crowd of bodies. The Mexican was then given acres of space as he headed the ball into the far bottom corner, giving the Cottagers a priceless lead. The score at the interval stood at 1-0 with Bournemouth so unlucky not to have something to show for their first half efforts.
The Cherries found a deserved equaliser 6 minutes into the 2nd period when Hill chipped the ball over the Fulham defence and into the path of record signing and star striker, Evanilson. The Brazilian brilliantly smashed the ball on the half volley into the far top corner from what seemed an impossible angle, Evanilson’s 5th goal of the campaign. The momentum then took a swing in favour of the hosts as they restored their lead in the 72nd minute when Harry Wilson made it goals in consecutive games. Antonee Robinson proved yet again why he was one of the best players so far this Premier League season, whipping the ball in from the left wing for Wilson to brilliantly head into the top right corner. With only minutes to play in the tie, Bournemouth found their 2nd of the game to level the scores. Antoine Semenyo’s shot from deep in the Fulham penalty area was deflected into the path of Dango Ouattara who had plenty of space on the right side of the area. Where most players would have opted for power, Ouattara showed real class and professionalism when he composedly chipped the ball over the outcoming Fulham keeper, Bernd Leno, and watched as his effort bounced across the line. The full time score finished 2-2 with these 2 exciting and free flowing attacking sides playing out an entertaining Premier League tie. Bournemouth drop to 6th in the table on 30 points while Fulham remain 8th, 1 point shy of the Cherries.
Tottenham Hotspur vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
The next game of Matchweek 19 saw Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham Hotspur host Vitor Pereira’s Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Tottenham Hotspurs Stadium. Wolves opened the scoring inside 10 minutes in spectacular fashion. Rayan Ait-Nouri played Wolves’ latest set piece across the penalty area to Hwang Hee-Chan who was fresh from scoring last Matchweek. Hwang’s strike was perfect, watching as his effort curled around the Tottenham wall and rolled down the side netting of Fraser Forster’s goal. Tottenham didn’t take long to level the tie though, scoring just 5 minutes later. Pedro Porro whipped in Spurs’ latest corner delivery, perfectly finding the head of Rodrigo Bentancur who brilliantly headed the ball into the top right corner and past Wolves keeper Jose Sa. Just before the interval, Wolves made a terrible error when their midfielder Andre gifted a penalty to the hosts after bringing down Brennan Johnson. It was a clear spot kick which skipper Son Hueng-Min stepped up to take, hoping to become the 2nd South Korean scorer in the afternoon. Son’s penalty was poor though, making for an easy save for Sa as he leapt to his right to deny him. Luckily for the captain, Spurs were able to find a 2nd goal late in first half stoppages. Dejan Kulusevski received the ball from Porro inside the penalty area where he held off the challenges from the Wolves’ defenders before squaring it to Johnson. The Welsh international rifled the ball into the top right corner, giving Spurs a deserved advantage and scoring his 11th goal. The score at half-time finished 2-1 with Wolves conceding their first 2 goals in the new Pereira era.
After a 2nd period mainly dominated by Wolves, Pereira’s side found an all important 2nd goal in the 87th minute. Ait-Nouri registered yet another assist in the afternoon when playing a brilliant through ball into the path of No.9 Jorgan Strand Larsen. Strand Larsen still had work to do though, somehow smashing the ball into the roof of the net from what looked an unworkable angle, leveling for Wolves in spectacular style to score his 7th of the season. The full time score finished 2-2 with a draw a fair result given how the game panned out. Wolves continue their unbeaten run under their new manager as they go 2 points clear of the relegation zone in 17th. Tottenham dropped points once again as they stayed in the bottom half of the table. It is now just 1 win for Spurs in their last 7 Premier League games, proving that they have their work cut out for them in the winter transfer window.
Aston Villa vs Brighton Hove & Albion
The first game played on Monday night in Matchweek 19 saw Unai Emery’s Aston Villa host Fabian Hurzeler’s Brighton at Villa Park with both sides in desperate need of a result. The Seagulls made the perfect start to the tie when they found the opener on the 12 minute mark. Lewis Dunk pinged a long ball from inside his own half into the host’s penalty area. Striker Joao Pedro shoulder-barged defender Ezri Konsa out of the way, leaving Simon Adingra with some space in the 18 yard area. Adingra used the space to his full advantage, dribbling onto his right before smashing the ball into the top right corner. Only moments after Morgan Rogers was denied a blatant penalty after a dangerous run into the Brighton area, he was awarded one after Joao Pedro kicked his feet from underneath him in attempting to clear Villa’s latest corner. Ollie Watkins stepped up to take the spot kick and dispatched it professionally, placing the ball into the bottom left corner. The score at the interval stood at 1-1 with almost every stat you looked at in this game so far pointing to a very even match-up.
Villa made the perfect start to the 2nd period when they completed the turn around just 2 minutes in. Watkins received the ball outside the penalty area where he saw the run of Rogers over at the far post. Watkins chipped the ball into his path before Rogers chested the ball down inside the 18 yard area before drilling the ball into the bottom left corner leaving Brighton keeper Bart Verbruggen with no chance. It was a very evenly contested next half hour until Brighton finally found a deserved 2nd goal in the 81st minute. Right back Tariq Lamptey picked the ball up inside his own half and made a driving run across the pitch, eventually spreading the ball over to the opposite wing which was occupied by Kaoru Mitoma. Mitoma cut the ball back to the edge of the penalty area where Pedro flicked it up, ready to strike. To the shock of Villa park, the Brazilian was unselfish, poking the ball back to Lampty who unleashed a rocket of a shot which nestled perfectly into the bottom left corner. At the end of 90 minutes, the score finished 2-2 with a point a piece, a very fair result. Villa dropped to 9th in the table on 29 points while Brighton remained 10th on 27.
Written by Ollie Wade – Read the rest of Matchweek 19 at Premier League Matchweek 19 24/25 – Kickoff chronicles
To read more by Ollie Wade click HERE.
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