Bournemouth have moved up into the top half of the Premier League and above Tottenham Hotspur following a 1-0 win over Ange Postecoglou's side tonight.
Dean Huijsen's first-half header ended up being the decisive moment in a game of many chances, but the teenage Spaniard was ultimately the only man who could convert across the evening.
Andoni Iraola's men had the lion's share of the good opportunities, especially in a remarkable spell during the final 20 minutes when Spurs left themselves wide open in search of an equaliser, but presented with chance after chance, the Cherries could not put the game to bed, eventually amassing an xG of almost 3.5.
Facing his former club for the first time since a big-money move over the summer, Spurs striker Dominic Solanke struggled to make much of an impact after blazing a clear opportunity over the crossbar inside 10 minutes.
Team mate Son Heung-min briefly thought he had found the equaliser for Spurs with his first touch after coming off the bench just before the hour mark, but the linesman's flag correctly denied him and cut those celebrations short.
VAR was required to disallow a goal at the other end merely 15 minutes later, as Fraser Forster's loose pass allowed Tyler Adams in, and the goalkeeper's save fell perfectly for Evanilson to score, but he was also in an offside position.
Marcus Tavernier will be disappointed with his efforts in front of goal, despite claiming an assist for the Huijsen goal, as he could easily have had a hat trick, with his opportunity in the final 10 minutes the most glaring of the three he passed up.
Despite those missed chances though, Bournemouth were able to hold on throughout six minutes of injury time, handing them a second straight win and moving them up to ninth in the Premier League table, above Spurs, who drop to 10th.
BOURNEMOUTH VS. TOTTENHAM HIGHLIGHTS
Huijsen goal vs. Tottenham (17th min, Bournemouth 1-0 Tottenham)
What a moment for Dean Huijsen!
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) December 5, 2024
A clinical header to put @afcbournemouth ahead! 🍒#PLonPrime #BOUTOT pic.twitter.com/nbQ6nJvKU4
What a moment for Huijsen! The Bournemouth defender, handed a first start of the campaign in the place of the injured Marcos Senesi, glides into space unattended and heads beyond Forster from close range after a fine delivery from Tavernier to become the club's youngest-ever Premier League goalscorer.
MAN OF THE MATCH - TYLER ADAMS
© Imago
There were many nominees for this award in the Bournemouth team, including the goalscorer Huijsen, but Adams's efforts all over the pitch in attack and defence means he edges it, especially considering how well he was able to nullify the Spurs midfield across the 90 minutes.
BOURNEMOUTH VS. TOTTENHAM MATCH STATS
Possession: Bournemouth 34% - 66% Tottenham
Shots: Bournemouth 21 - 12 Tottenham
Shots on target: Bournemouth 8 - 4 Tottenham
Corners: Bournemouth 5 - 9 Tottenham
Fouls: Bournemouth 15 - 8 Tottenham
BEST STATS
19 - Aged 19 years and 235 days, Dean Huijsen is the first ever teenager to score for Bournemouth in the Premier League. He's the youngest player whose first Premier League goal came against Tottenham since Phil Foden in April 2019 (18y 327d). Junior. pic.twitter.com/6KhCuKnjBn
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 5, 2024
Bournemouth's highest xG in a Premier League game since 2016/17:
— Squawka (@Squawka) December 5, 2024
◎ 3.38 vs. West Ham (2017)
◎ 3.35 vs. Sheffield United (2024)
◉ 3.31 vs. Tottenham (2024)
Spurs were lucky it was only one. 😅#BOUTOT https://t.co/3D14ia3xQt
WHAT NEXT?
Spurs have an important London derby against Chelsea on the horizon at the weekend, while Bournemouth will look to build on back-to-back wins when they travel to Portman Road to face Ipswich Town.
Andrew Delaney
