Game of 2 Halves

 

I'm forever blowing bubbles,

        Pretty bubbles in the air,                                                                                                    In Association With....

                  They fly so high,

                           Nearly reach the sky,

                  Then like my dreams,

            They fade and die.

Fortune's always hiding,

          I've looked everywhere,

                  I'm forever blowing bubbles,

                                        Pretty bubbles in the air.......

            UNITED!!!!!!!!!!!UNITED!!!!!!!!!!!UNITED!!!!!!!!!!!

⚽ Report: AFC Bournemouth 2-2 West Ham United

Date: Saturday, November 22, 2025

Competition: Premier League

Venue: Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth1

Result: AFC Bournemouth 2-2 West Ham United

AFC Bournemouth mounted a spirited second-half comeback to salvage a 2-2 draw against West Ham United at the Vitality Stadium in a thrilling Premier League contest.²

🎯 Match Summary: A Tale of Two Halves

West Ham United, inspired by a brilliant brace from former Cherries striker Callum Wilson, went into the break with a commanding 2-0 lead.³ However, a relentless second-half performance from the home side saw them claw their way back, with goals from Marcus Tavernier (penalty) and substitute Enes Ünal securing a point.⁴

• First Half (0-2): West Ham were clinical and efficient despite Bournemouth dominating possession.⁵ Wilson opened the scoring in the 11th minute, capitalising on a long punt forward and a defensive mix-up.⁶ He then doubled the lead in the 35th minute with a superb individual effort, leaving the Cherries stunned.

• Second Half (2-0): Bournemouth came out with renewed vigour, piling pressure on the West Ham goal. The comeback began in the 69th minute when Marcus Tavernier successfully converted a penalty awarded for a handball in the box.⁷ The equalizer arrived in the 81st minute when substitute Enes Ünal finished smartly shortly after coming on.⁸ The hosts pushed hard for a winner, but were repeatedly thwarted by an outstanding performance from West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola.⁹

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🌟 Key Performers

• Alphonse Areola (West Ham): The clear Man of the Match, his string of vital saves in the second half—especially in the frantic final minutes—was the sole reason West Ham managed to hold on for a point.¹⁰

• Callum Wilson (West Ham): Scored two exceptional goals against his former club, showcasing his quality and efficiency in the first half.

• Enes Ünal (Bournemouth): Came off the bench to make an immediate impact, scoring the decisive equaliser and injecting energy into the home attack.¹¹

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📊 Key Statistics

Bournemouth's dominance in the game is highlighted by the statistics, particularly their second-half onslaught:

Statistic	AFC Bournemouth	West Ham United
Possession (%)	76	24
Shots	28	5
Shots on Target	10	2
Corners	9	2

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💬 Manager Reactions & Context

Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola praised his side's second-half performance but lamented the "two cheap goals" conceded in the first half.¹² West Ham manager Nuno Espírito Santo will be relieved to take a point, but the decision to make defensive substitutions (including removing two-goal Wilson) early in the second half drew criticism for inviting pressure.¹³

The draw means Bournemouth remain in the top half of the table, while West Ham climb out of the bottom three into 17th.¹⁴

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