Bournemouth 3-0 Sturm Graz: Evanilson nets stunner in historic home victory

Bournemouth marked their first home game in European competition with a victory as they swept aside Sturm Graz 3-0 to seal back-to-back wins in the Europa League. 

Evanilson's superb 43rd-minute header put Bournemouth ahead, with Rayan making an instant impact off the bench by scoring the Cherries' second from close range. 

Alvaro Rodriguez sealed the deal with a late penalty, with Marco Rose's side welcoming Serie A and European giants AC Milan to the Vitality Stadium next Thursday. 

Marcus Tavernier squandered a huge chance to give Bournemouth a 12th-minute lead, but after he was found by Adam Smith's glorious cross, he failed to test Daniil Khudyakov. 

Bournemouth thought they had taken the lead when Tavernier's teasing corner was flicked on by Evanilson, with the loose ball turned in on the line by Bafode Diakite, but the goal was ruled out for a handball against the Frenchman in the goalmouth scramble. 

Tavernier then thundered a curling effort against the left post before the Cherries survived a scare at the other end when Belmin Beganovic went down under Smith's challenge, but the Sturm Graz attacker was booked for simulation, though the replays showed there was contact. 

And the hosts made the most of their luck two minutes before half-time through Evanilson, who looped a stunning header from Smith's cross over Khudyakov and into the net.

But Sturm Graz came out firing after the break and should have drawn level just after the hour. Simon Seidl's delivery to the back post ended with Jurgen Heil rattling the woodwork, with Djordje Petrovic on hand to repel Jacob Hodl on the rebound. 

However, the hosts doubled their advantage in the 76th minute. Lewis Cook's corner was only punched as far as Rayan, who sent a right-footed shot towards goal on the swivel that squirmed through the grasp of Khudyakov. 

Bournemouth were keen to add to their tally late on, with Justin Kluivert stinging the palms of Khudyakov, and they would add further gloss to the scoreline when James Hill was chopped down inside the area by Jon Gorenc Stankovic, with Rodriguez sending the resulting penalty down the middle. 

Evanilson a head above the rest in statement Bournemouth win

Ahead of kick-off, Rose described Bournemouth's 5-1 defeat to Chelsea in the Premier League last weekend as a "real slap" in the face. The Cherries boss urged his players to deliver a response, and they certainly did that here. 

The Cherries' win was laid on the foundations of Evanilson's quite wonderful opening goal. At 16.3 metres, the Brazilian scored the furthest-distance headed goal in a major European competition this season, while it was his second goal of 2026-27 in his eighth outing in all competitions. 

In what was a historic match for the Bournemouth home faithful, they watched their team become the first English side to win their first two matches in major European competition since Bolton Wanderers in the 2005-06 UEFA Cup.

Rayan, meanwhile, is the youngest player (aged 20) to score in an English club's first two major European matches since an 18-year-old Jimmy Greaves scored in Chelsea's first two in 1958.

English clubs are unbeaten in their last 35 matches in major European competition against Austrian sides (W28 D7) since Arsenal lost 1-0 to Austria Wien in October 1991 in the European Cup, and Bournemouth were deserving winners. 

Rose's side finished with an expected goals (xG) total of 2.68 from their 24 shots to Sturm Graz's 0.36 from their six attempts, with Bournemouth now hoping this win can be used to turn their Premier League fortunes around. They face Sunderland, who also won in the Europa League earlier on Thursday, this weekend.