Bournemouth delivered a stunning 3-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford, with goals from Dean Huijsen, Justin Kluivert, and Antoine Semenyo, propelling them to fifth in the Premier League standings. This win marked Bournemouth’s fourth league victory in five matches, bringing them to 28 points after 17 games. In contrast, United, with just 22 points, are 13th in the table and will spend Christmas in the bottom half of the Premier League for the first time in their history.
United defender Lisandro Martínez emphasized the importance of showing character and personality in tough situations, noting that the team needs to believe in their ability to win every match. Despite United’s dominance in shots, especially from Bruno Fernandes, it was Bournemouth who took control. Huijsen opened the scoring in the 29th minute, out-jumping Joshua Zirkzee to head home Ryan Christie’s free kick. United’s ongoing set-piece vulnerabilities resurfaced, adding to their woes.
The game slipped further away from United in the second half when Kluivert converted a penalty in the 61st minute after Noussair Mazraoui fouled him in the box. Just two minutes later, Semenyo struck a powerful shot past goalkeeper André Onana, assisted by Dango Ouattara. Bournemouth’s manager, Andoni Iraola, described the win as important, noting that although the scoreline seemed comfortable, the match was more challenging than it appeared.
Bournemouth fans celebrated the victory with chants referencing their 3-0 win at Old Trafford last season, further humiliating United. Semenyo expressed pride in the back-to-back victories at the iconic stadium but cautioned against complacency.
United’s performance was poor, despite having 23 shots compared to Bournemouth’s 10. Manager Ruben Amorim admitted his team struggled with set pieces and nervousness, particularly after conceding the penalty and second goal. United’s attack also suffered, with Alejandro Garnacho missing a clear opportunity. Additionally, Marcus Rashford was absent from the squad for the third consecutive match, fueling speculation about his future at the club.
