Evanilson, Rayan and Rodríguez seal historic European home win for Bournemouth

Bournemouth claimed a historic European home win, with goals from Evanilson, Rayan and Álvaro Rodríguez against Sturm Graz in the Europa League. Evanilson’s first-half header set the team on its way, before Rayan extended the lead with a close-range drive. A penalty from Rodríguez in injury time capped the celebrations.

The result comes with Bournemouth still without a Premier League win. After beating Sturm Graz, following a victory over Real Sociedad, the domestic pressure on Marco Rose could ease. The coach made changes after the 5-1 defeat by Chelsea, while his starting selection had suggested that the Premier League was the priority.

Bournemouth had to wait to make its chances count. The team has created opportunities this season, but finishing them had been a problem. Against a Graz side sitting fourth in the Österreichische Bundesliga and defending in a compact shape, Adam Smith supplied the cross that Evanilson headed home. It was the first European goal celebrated in Boscombe and rewarded Rose’s side for its first-half display.

The match grew more tense after the break. Tavernier hit the outside of a post from distance, before Graz began to threaten more often. Bournemouth thought it had scored from a corner, but the ball had struck Bafode Diakité’s arm. Graz’s sharper exchanges brought the Premier League’s missed chances back into focus. Rayan eventually secured the win, before Rodríguez added the penalty.

Bournemouth also had to manage the losses of Junior Kroupi, already unavailable earlier in the season, and Alex Scott, a concern for a small squad. Ben Gannon-Doak brought pace on the right wing, while Evanilson at times supported Rodríguez rather than leading the line alone. After a draining first half, Tavernier and Lewis Cook tried to lift the team. James Hill, who came on for Adam Smith, then saw Graz go close twice.

The occasion delivered the European home victory Bournemouth had been looking for. The Steve Fletcher stand featured a banner bearing “Minus 17 to European dreams”, recalling the club’s climb from the Football League’s bottom tier to continental prominence. Bournemouth has come a long way; this win offered another sign of that progress.