Bournemouth 1-1 Sunderland: Mayenda and Evanilson score in entertaining stalemate

Bournemouth and Sunderland, two Premier League sides with European ambitions this season, played out a 1-1 draw at the Vitality Stadium in the early Saturday afternoon kick-off.

Eliezer Mayenda gave the Black Cats a first-half lead before Evanilson headed in the equaliser shortly after the hour mark, paving the way for an end-to-end finish as both teams pushed for the winner.

The result keeps the Cherries in eighth, one point behind seventh-placed Brentford, while Sunderland move level on points with Fulham, who sit one place above Regis Le Bris’s men in 10th.

An intriguing encounter on the south coast

The visitors began brightly, pegging the hosts back in their half for much of the opening exchanges. 

Sunderland had an early penalty shout waived away after Enzo Le Fee was bundled over in the box by Alejandro Jimenez, before, at the other end, Junior Kroupi dragged an effort wide from just inside the penalty box. 

If the Black Cats felt aggrieved by the earlier spot-kick decision, it didn’t show. On 18 minutes, they deservedly broke the deadlock when a fine pass from Daniel Ballard found Habib Diarra down the right.

The midfielder rifled an effort across the box which was parried by Djordje Petrovic straight into the path of Mayenda, who was on hand to steer home the rebound. 

The Bournemouth response was positive and they went close to levelling when a Marcus Tavernier shot was spilled by Robin Roefs. 

The ball broke to Alex Scott, but the Sunderland goalkeeper was able to smother the follow-up. 

Roefs again had to be sharp to deny Tavernier moments later at the near post as Sunderland took their slender advantage into the break.

Immediately following the restart, Le Fee set Diarra clear of the hosts’ backline, but the chance was squandered when his low effort beaten away by Petrovic.

Tyler Adams then avoided a possible red card for a strong challenge Granit Xhaka before Evanilson, on as a half-time substitute, nodded in Tavernier’s cross at the far post to level the score.

It was then Sunderland’s turn to hit back, with Ballard heading wide of the mark before bundling the ball over the line from a free-kick moments later, only for the offside flag to go up.

The game began to open up during the final 10 minutes, with both sides seemingly not content with settling for a draw.

Rayan’s deflected strike from distance spun inches wide with seconds remaining but, in the end, both teams had to settle for a share of the points.