AFCB save their best for Marseilles 5-2

Match Report

AFCB 5 v 2 Olympic Marseilles

4 August 2018

Bournemouth get ready for the new season with a 5-2 win over Olympic Marseilles.

Pre-season had been an arduous affair for AFCB fans up until this game. Perhaps the Cherries have timed their form just right after all after Josh King helped himself to a brace and Callum Wilson, Ryan Fraser and Adam Smith all bagged goals in an emphatic 5-2 win over a sun-drenched Marseilles team that were behind in just 14 seconds. It was a pulsating first 60 minutes with Marseilles unable to prevent Bournemouth going into a 5-0 lead, and Marseilles seemed as helpless as some of the crowd who were trying to stay cool. But you had to get excited about the way Bournemouth found their fire power with Ryan Fraser and Josh King having superb games. If the Cherries start as well next week against Cardiff any grumbles about few summer signings will soon be forgotten.

The players come on to the pitch on a sweltering afternoon.

The team was pretty much as expected with David Brooks getting a start and Wilson and King used as a strike partnership, while Steve Cook and Aké began at the back. What we didn't expect was the fast start and as soon as Wilson got the run of the ball and King had Fraser speeding down the left wing Marseilles were in trouble. A quick low cross was not hit by Josh King but it ran on freely for Adam Smith, who steamed in like a train, to strike with venom right into the top of the net, giving the Cherries an unbelievable first minute lead. 

It might have been 2-0 very quickly had the referee looked more favourably on Callum Wilson going to ground in the box. As it was a David Brooks skied shot was the best Bournemouth could do following the sensational start. Brooks was to get an even better chance running in from the right, after Adam Smith had given him the ball to chase, but the new signing had little angle and hit his shot against the keeper's legs.

While Marseilles recovered enough to win their first corner, it was AFCB playing some marvellous one-touch passing with Andrew Surman in the centre of it all. A free kick from Fraser almost saw Steve Cook stretch enough to test Marseilles' keeper again.

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Mitroglu did manage to put the ball in the net moments later, only for the offside flag to go up. Fraser was on top form getting round to the byline and drilling crosses across the box while a burst from Dan Gosling through the middle opened the door again for Fraser to cross and find King, ready to steer Bournemouth's second goal into the net on 24 minutes.

AFCB were in the mood and Wilson saw his deflected shot saved before the corner saw him attempt a hooked shot that was blocked.

Marseilles were starting to liven up by before Adam Smith passed to Brooks who stabbed a pass forward for King on the right of the box to make it 3-0 on 35 minutes. It was a deft little finish which gave the keeper no chance.

Marseilles did have a shot from distance that Begovic had to set quickly to his top right to save, but as half time came around, AFCB were good value for their 3-0 lead.

An impressive first half.

Second half

Bournemouth were just as motivated at the start of the second half to extend the lead and after a Brooks turn Wilson set about attacking. King crossed from the right for Fraser to score, despite a good attempt by the keeper to keep the shout out. 4-0 and 47 minutes played. Eddie Howe must have thought this was going perfectly.

The next attack had Gosling going close, before Surman made a lofted pass to Wilson who cut in from the left and beat two players, before scoring in the bottom left corner - 5-0 on 50 minutes!

I guess the only thing Howe had said at half time was make sure you keep a clean sheet. But while he didn't want Marseilles to score, he also didn't want was to see Nathan Aké walk off with a slight limp on 53 minutes, to be replaced by Emerson Hyndman. Surman dropped to centre-back.

Marseilles' Germain some how managing to block a cross at his feet from Sarr when it was easier to score. As Bournemouth relaxed Marseilles got their reward with Germain making no mistake from an acute angle on the left to get Marseilles on the scoreboard on 64 minutes.

Wilson replied with a sharp turn a shot that Pele saved. Saki was then subbed as the French team began to make changes. Fraser was subbed as well on 76 minutes to give Dobre another run out. Payet was then taken off with 11 minutes to go.

N'Jie wasted no time in getting a sight on goal with a dipping shot from 25 yards that had Begovic checking his bar as it just slid over it. David Brooks had run his legs enough and was next to be subbed on 85 minutes.

Marseilles would have one last say when Cabella managed to beat Begovic after his shot skimmed off Daniels head from 25 yards out and in at the right post to add a bit of respectability to the score at 5-2.

AFCB round off pr-season with a big win.

Summary

Bournemouth look to be rounding off pre-season with a bit of sharp finishing and while the goals have still come against the team, this game was all over by half time. AFCB will have to manage games better than this when they do get leads, but I think we can put some of the Marseilles goes not only down to their players and also the heat, plus the fact that AFCB had done enough to win the game. Pride in getting a clean sheet would have been huge, but I don't think Howe will dwell to much on that when the team began both halves in such sparkling form. When they had to produce they did. The players Eddie Howe played in this game were keen to show they wanted to have the shirt for the opening game next weekend.

AFCB

Begovic, A Smith. S Cook, Aké (Hyndman 53), Daniels, Brooks (Hussey 85), Gosling, Surman, Fraser (Dobre 76), King, Wilson

Cherry Chimes Mom: Josh King

Olympic Marseilles

Pele, Sakai, Kamara, Sansom, Payet, Mitroglu, Sarr, Amavi, Gustavo, Houbcan, Germain

In other news, Jack Simpson could be a loan target for Rangers, says the Daily Record.

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