Brazilian teenager Rayan continued his blistering start to life in the Premier League as Bournemouth came from behind to defeat 10-man Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
After making a £24.7 million move from Vasco de Gama last month, Rayan scored for a second game in a row to cancel out Iliman Ndiaye’s first-half penalty, before Amine Adli put Bournemouth ahead less than four minutes later.
A disastrous eight-minute period for Everton was compounded when defender Jake O’Brien was sent off for a professional foul on Adli.
Everton enjoyed the better of the first half and were gifted a penalty when 19-year-old Rayan felled Jarrad Branthwaite with a clumsy challenge.
In-form Thierno Barry should have put Everton ahead on the half-hour mark when he fired wide from six yards out, and minutes into the second half, he saw a close-range chance blocked on the goal-line.
Bournemouth responded in breathtaking fashion – Rayan headed in Adrien Truffert’s cross at the back post, before Adli latched onto a James Hill header to finish off a well-worked free-kick routine.
“He showed his character,” Adli said of Rayan to TNT Sports.
“He is a massive talent and we are very happy to have him. We are always behind every player that makes a mistake and today we showed that we are a strong team and we are behind each other in good and bad moments.”
Victory extends Bournemouth’s unbeaten run to six Premier Legue games, whereas Everton are now winless in their last five home league matches.
Everton analysis: Wasted chances and sudden collapse as home struggles continue
Adapting to a new home after spending 133 years at Goodison Park was never going to be easy, but Everton’s settling-in period at Hill Dickinson Stadium is taking longer than most expected.
David Moyes’ side began well enough, winning two and drawing two of their first four, but are now winless in their last five home league games.
Before kick-off the Toffees boss said he would like his side to replicate their impressive away performances in front of their home fans, and for a time they did.
If Barry’s glaring first-half miss let Bournemouth off the hook, then the Cherries had goalkeeper Petrovic to thank for clawing Ndiaye’s back post effort off the line and onto the woodwork.
Superb goalmouth blocks denied Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Barry early in the second half, before Everton’s night fell apart in the space of eight minutes.
The ease with which Bournemouth twice opened up Everton – having created little beforehand – should concern Moyes, more so than O’Brien’s avoidable red card.
The defender felt he had to try and stop Adli racing onto a through-ball in behind, and even though he was still more than 30 yards from goal, he was the last man.
Bournemouth analysis: Rayan shines as Cherries resurgence continues
He may only be three games into his Premier League career, but Rayan already looks like he could be one of the signings of the season.
Andoni Iraola’s side saw off competition from several other European clubs to sign the 19-year-old, who replaced Antoine Semenyo after his £65m move to Manchester City.
The early signs are that the teenager possesses the same work-rate and eye for goal as his Ghanaian predecessor.
By adding to his assist on his debut against Wolves and his goal against Aston Villa on Saturday, Rayan became just the third teenager in Premier League history to provide a goal or assist in each of his first three appearances.
The first was Robbie Keane in 1999, before Anthony Martial repeated the feat in 2015.
The only blot on Rayan’s start to life at Bournemouth was the penalty he conceded after losing control of the ball while trying to dribble out of his own box.
“Some decisions you have to accept when the player is so young at 19 and it is his first week with us,” Iraola told BBC Match of the Day.
“He showed character, personality, he hasn’t been affected. I’ve liked what I have seen from him character wise. He has started really well.”
Hill produced another solid display in his first season as a regular starter in the heart of defence, and it was his aerial ability that set up Adli for the winner.
Only Aston Villa (18) and Sunderland (16) have rescued more points from losing positions in the Premier League this season than Bournemouth (14).
After a run of 11 league games without a win during November and December, Iraola’s side appears to be back on track.
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Source: www.myjoyonline.com