In a spirited South Coast derby at St Mary’s Stadium, Southampton suffered a 3-1 defeat to Bournemouth, despite a commendable goal from Ghanaian winger Kamaldeen Sulemana.
The loss leaves Southampton anchored at the bottom of the Premier League table, intensifying their relegation concerns.
Bournemouth seized control early, with Dango Ouattara heading in Ryan Christie’s cross in the 14th minute. Just two minutes later, Christie doubled the lead with a powerful 22-yard strike, leaving Southampton’s defense reeling. The Saints struggled to find their rhythm, offering limited threats in the first half.
The introduction of Tyler Dibling injected some energy into Southampton’s attack. In the 72nd minute, Sulemana capitalized on this momentum, delivering a powerful finish to narrow the deficit. This marked his first Premier League goal of the season, bringing his tally to one goal in 13 league appearances. Additionally, Sulemana has featured in two FA Cup matches, netting once, and two EFL Cup appearances without scoring.
However, Bournemouth extinguished any hopes of a comeback when substitute Marcus Tavernier secured their third goal in the 83rd minute. The victory propels Bournemouth above Chelsea into fifth place, bolstering their European ambitions.
Southampton’s next league fixture is a home game against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday, February 22, 2025. The Saints will need to regroup swiftly to salvage their season and avoid relegation.
