Enes Unal marked his full Premier League debut with a goal and an assist as Bournemouth cruised to a 3-0 victory over Brighton and Hove Albion at Vitality Stadium.
Unal, deployed as a starter for the first time in the Premier League, played a pivotal role.
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He set up the opening goal with a flick-on for Marcos Senesi’s header in the 13th minute. Unal then doubled Bournemouth’s lead in the 52nd minute with a powerful header off Dango Ouattara’s cross.
The Cherries dominated the match, keeping Brighton at bay despite a brief period of pressure in the second half.
Julio Enciso’s introduction off the bench provided some spark for the Seagulls, but they failed to convert their chances. Justin Kluivert sealed the victory for Bournemouth with a late solo effort.
This win puts Bournemouth in 10th place, four points clear of Brighton and within striking distance of Chelsea above them. With their record Premier League points tally now at 48, the Cherries hold onto a sliver of hope for European qualification.
This defeat extends Brighton’s winless run to seven games, with only two points earned in that period. Their hopes of securing a second consecutive season of European football appear to be fading fast.
Unal meanwhile, will be hoping his performance gets his more regular playing time. He now has two goals and two assists for the Cherries since joining on loan from Getafe.
This was his first start and he has now played a total of 218 minutes of football for Bournemouth this term.
