Brentford 2 Bournemouth 2
Thomas Frank’s Brentford welcomed Bournemouth to the Gtech Community Stadium as they looked to build on their unbeaten start to the season. The visitors had not won a game yet this campaign which had the home fans in confident mood.
Neto was penalised for a foul just outside of his box early in the game, it seemed a harsh decision as he was clearing the ball when the player got his foot to the ball. From the resulting free kick, Jensen whipped in a shot which the Bournemouth keeper seemed to claw out but the goal was given.
Goal-line technology is usually pretty instant, with the referee being notified by a vibration on a watch but this one seemed to be a delayed response. Maybe Jared Gillett thought he was having some sort of seizure instead of being notified of a goal.
Ryan Christie then went on a mazy run, a la Lionel Messi, as he beat every Brentford player in his path. Sadly, he had not planned on having to beat Dominic Solanke also as the striker took the ball off him and flicked a tame effort to the keeper. Christie was not amused.
Credit: @BrentfordFC
The Bees were playing a direct style and they found Schade in a dangerous area but his shot came back into play, courtesy of the woodwork. It would prove to be a costly close shave as the visitors went straight down the other end and scored.
Ben Mee stood off Dominic Solanke, allowing the striker to get a shot away which beat Flekken at his near post. Brentford will feel the goal was very much against the run of play at the time.
The Bees started the second half brightly and when they broke down the left flank, the ball was set on a plate for Mbuemo with not a Bournemouth player in sight. Somehow, the striker missed the target completely when it seemed far easier to convert.
Rico Henry was causing problems down the left wing and he was to find Wissa who shot but his effort hit the outside of the post. This was the second time they had struck the woodwork.
Lewis Potter was the next Brentford player to strike the frame of the goal as he tried to convert a drilled cross, Thomas Frank must have been wondering whether this was not to be their day. As they gifted away possession in the final third, Bournemouth had the chance to counter.
Rico Henry got across to cover but he sold his keeper short with the backpass and Tavernier was able to square the ball to Brooks. He took one touch to control it, rounded the keeper and knocked the ball into the empty net. Classic sucker punch.
Credit: @afcbournemouth
The Cherries thought they were heading towards their first win of the season but deep into stoppage time, Mbuemo turned his marker brilliantly and was heading towards goal with only the keeper to beat. He calmly slotted it past Neto to make it 2-2 and save his side’s unbeaten start to the season.
Brentford will feel they did more than enough to win this game but given the situation they found themselves in with 90 minutes up on the clock, the equaliser will have felt like a win in itself. Bournemouth are still in search of their first win of the campaign but manager Andoni Iraola will be pleased with the performance of his side on the road.
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