Bournemouth staged a remarkable comeback to overcome Luton 4-3 in the Premier League clash on Wednesday, erasing a 3-0 halftime deficit.
Antoine Semenyo’s decisive 83rd-minute goal at Vitality Stadium secured the victory for Bournemouth and denied Luton the chance to escape the relegation zone.
Bournemouth joins an elite group of teams in Premier League history, becoming only the third side to rally from a 3-0 halftime deficit to claim victory, following in the footsteps of Manchester United and Wolverhampton.
“I’ve never experienced a game like that before,” remarked Semenyo. “Even when trailing at halftime, we maintain our bravery and intensity. So, in the second half, regardless of the score, our approach remains the same. We knew opportunities would come, and the second half today was incredible.”
Initially, Luton appeared poised to ascend to 17th place in the standings, ahead of Nottingham Forest on goal difference, with goals from Tahith Chong, Chiedozie Ogbene, and Ross Barkley before halftime.
However, Bournemouth mounted a spirited comeback after the break, spearheaded by goals from Dominic Solanke, Illia Zabarnyi, and a brace from Semenyo.
“It’s a painful defeat, but we must regroup,” lamented Luton manager Rob Edwards. “We have another crucial match against Forest in a few days, and we have no choice but to bounce back and go again.”
The match had been rescheduled following an earlier abandonment due to Luton captain Tom Lockyer’s cardiac arrest on the pitch in December. Lockyer, accompanied by the medical team that tended to him, received a heartfelt ovation from the spectators.
Chong’s ninth-minute header gave Luton the lead, with Ogbene doubling their advantage in the 31st minute, before Barkley’s strike extended the lead to 3-0 just before halftime.
Bournemouth, who had recently rallied from a 2-0 deficit to draw 2-2 with Sheffield United, mounted an even more remarkable fightback. Solanke kickstarted the revival in the 50th minute, followed by Zabarnyi’s header in the 62nd minute, and Semenyo’s quickfire brace.
Semenyo capped off the incredible comeback with a well-placed effort past Luton goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski to seal the dramatic win.
“We’re delighted with the result, but there were moments where we struggled and it was challenging to maintain belief,” reflected Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola. “However, the players remained resilient, and we managed to complete the comeback in the end.”
Bournemouth midfielder Tyler Adams made his long-awaited Premier League debut for the club, entering the fray in the 71st minute. The United States captain had been sidelined with a hamstring injury since October and had only made one appearance since March 11, 2023.
