Bournemouth attacker Antoine Semenyo, who is close to transferring to Manchester City, assisted on two goals and gave away a penalty in a tumultuous 2-2 tie against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
The 25-year-old is in detailed negotiations regarding a £65m transfer to Etihad Stadium but played for the Cherries, assisting two goals with long throw-ins for David Brooks and Justin Kluivert to finish.
His initial throw resulted in Brooks netting a goal from a short distance in the sixth minute.
Chelsea leveled the score and then took the lead after Semenyo fouled Estevao Willian in the penalty area. Referee Sam Barrott granted a penalty after a video assistant referee (VAR) review at the pitch side in the 15th minute.
Cole Palmer scored, hitting the corner even though goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic dove correctly, and then Enzo Fernandez shot into the top corner to bring it to 2-1 after 23 minutes.
Kluivert then scored from close range following another Semenyo long throw-in just four minutes later.
Chelsea created additional opportunities, but Bournemouth dominated the first half with 14 attempts that challenged goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.
During the break, Chelsea’s head coach, Enzo Maresca, substituted captain Reece James for Josh Acheampong and brought in Pedro Neto for Alejandro Garnacho.
VAR official Craig Pawson later rejected a handball claim against Malo Gusto just after halftime, with former Blues keeper Petrovic making a notable save from Estevao’s attempt from the perimeter of the area.
Fernandez also fired a shot from inside the box in the 77th minute, which was the half’s best opportunity.
Joao Pedro took Palmer’s place just before boos erupted from the home fans as Maresca’s team became more dominant but couldn’t secure a late winner.
During injury time, Amine Adli provided a cross for Bournemouth’s substitute Enes Unal, who volleyed over from only 12 yards away.
Chelsea have only secured one victory in their last seven league matches, whereas Bournemouth are still searching for a win in 10.
Chelsea will be relieved to bid farewell to a dreadful December.
In their last match of November, they tied with Arsenal at Stamford Bridge, outplaying the league leaders even after going down to 10 men in the 38th minute, while being just six points behind the Gunners.
Chelsea now find themselves nearer to 15th-placed Bournemouth than to third-placed Aston Villa, having wasted a two-goal advantage against Villa just three days earlier.
Having been in the lead, they have now squandered a league-high 15 points from winning situations. Prior to this match, the Blues held the 13th position in the home performance table—it’s no surprise that some supporters booed at the end.
Chelsea’s recent performance of one victory in seven league games has shifted the team from being part of the Premier League elite to what some refer to as the league’s ‘middle class.’ In the competitive standings, Chelsea—along with potentially a dozen other teams—is competing for European spots.
Their objective continues to be Champions League qualification, and a rise in performance could swiftly set them back on course.
They will wish for progress in 2026, although visiting Manchester City without Moises Caicedo—suspended after receiving his fifth yellow card of the season—appears to be a challenging beginning.
Semenyo showcased to Chelsea—who briefly considered signing him—what they will forfeit and gave Manchester City a preview of what lies ahead.
His initial move was a shimmy around Acheampong and Estevao before providing a threatening in-swinging cross in the fourth minute.
Three minutes later, his lengthy throw-in initiated the scoring, and he subsequently duplicated the act to assist another goal.
His game had a lot more depth. In a comprehensive match, Semenyo’s strength was vital on both sides, and he played a key role in counterattacks that allowed Bournemouth to generate multiple opportunities during the first half.
It also emphasized something more challenging to measure: Semenyo’s dedication and professionalism.
He could have held back to prevent injury prior to his move, but instead he dedicated himself to defensive responsibilities, clearing several aerial balls in the second half.
Toward the conclusion, he was anticipating a long pass that Reece James intercepted while Bournemouth aimed to absorb pressure and still utilize their star as a release.
Speaking on if it was Semenyo’s last match for Bournemouth, Iraola said, “It is not his last game. I can’t say 100 percent, but I think he will play, yes.
“He needs to recover because we play Arsenal at home in another three days, against the top of the league. He will be an important player for us, yes.”
Chelsea travels to Manchester City on Sunday, while Bournemouth hosts league leaders Arsenal on Saturday in their first Premier League matches of 2026.
