Ouattara nets hattrick as Bournemouth whip Nottingham Forest
AFC Bournemouth extended their impressive unbeaten run in the Premier League to 11 games with a dominant 5-0 victory over an in-form Nottingham Forest.
The Cherries took the lead early through Justin Kluivert, who struck a stunning goal from 25 yards just seven minutes into the game. In the second half, Dango Ouattara doubled the lead in the 55th minute with a well-placed header from a Kluivert cross. The Burkinabe international added his second just six minutes later, finishing clinically after a precise pass from Tyler Adams.
Ouattara completed his hat-trick in the 87th minute, capitalizing on a rebound after Matz Sels saved a powerful long-range effort from Marcus Tavernier. Antoine Semenyo rounded off the scoring in stoppage time with a brilliant finish, sealing an emphatic win for Bournemouth.
Manager Andoni Iraola named an unchanged side following their commanding win over Newcastle, with Marcus Tavernier returning to the bench after injury. Meanwhile, Nuno Espírito Santo made two changes for Forest, bringing in Ryan Yates for Nicolás Domínguez and Jota Silva for the injured Callum Hudson-Odoi.
Forest started brightly, with Anthony Elanga firing into the side netting early on, but the hosts soon asserted their dominance. Kluivert’s opener came after he picked up the ball in Bournemouth’s half and unleashed a powerful shot into the bottom corner. Forest’s Ryan Yates and Morgan Gibbs-White had attempts, but Kepa Arrizabalaga was equal to the task.
The second half saw Bournemouth increase their intensity. Ouattara’s first goal came from a perfectly delivered Kluivert cross, while his second followed a well-timed pass from Adams. Although Forest enjoyed more possession after the third goal, they struggled to create significant chances. Kepa made a crucial save to deny Elanga late on, but Bournemouth remained in control.
In the final minutes, Ouattara secured his hat-trick, and Semenyo added a fifth with a composed finish after Tavernier’s impressive run. Substitutions, including Zain Silcott-Duberry replacing Ouattara, capped off a memorable performance for the Cherries, who now sit comfortably on 40 points in the Premier League standings.
AFC Bournemouth Starting XI: Kepa; Kerkez, Huijsen, Zabarnyi (booked 90+3’), Cook (c) (booked 15’); Christie, Adams, Semenyo; Kluivert (Jebbison 88’), Brooks (Tavernier 80’), Ouattara (Silcott-Duberry 90+2’).
Nottingham Forest Starting XI: Sels; N. Williams (Moreno 67’), Murillo, Milenković, O. Aina (Sosa 79’ – booked 59’); Anderson, Yates (c) (Domínguez 46’); Elanga, Gibbs-White (Awoniyi 79’), Silva (booked 64’) (Morato 66’ – booked 59’); Wood.