Enes Unal’s last-minute equalizer secured a point for Bournemouth, thwarting Sheffield United’s bid for a crucial three points in their battle for Premier League survival.
The 26-year-old Turkish international, currently on loan from Getafe, calmly slotted in his inaugural goal for the club in the first minute of added time, shortly after seeing a header from a similar position cleared off the line.
Sheffield United was left feeling hard done by the late equalizer, as they had shown significant improvement from their previous defeat at home to Arsenal just days earlier, and had maintained a 2-0 lead until the 74th minute at Vitality Stadium.
Gustavo Hamer broke the deadlock in the first half, capitalizing on a rebound from Bournemouth goalkeeper Neto after Jayden Bogle’s low shot, with the goal arriving 13 minutes after Dominic Solanke had missed an early penalty for the Cherries, skying the ball over the crossbar after slipping in the run-up.
The visitors were gifted a second goal midway through the second half when Neto inadvertently punched a corner into Solanke, and Jack Robinson was on hand to convert from close range, the ball striking the inside of the post before crossing the line.
Solanke saw a goal disallowed by VAR for handball on the edge of the six-yard area, and Dango Ouattara’s powerful header provided Bournemouth with hope before Unal completed the comeback.
The draw elevates Sheffield United above fellow relegation contenders Burnley in the table, but they remain 10 points behind 17th-placed Nottingham Forest.
“There are mixed emotions,” Blades boss Chris Wilder told BBC Match of the Day. “The players were putting bodies everywhere.
“We all had to stand up. This has been one of the hardest weeks we’ve had in football after what happened on Monday night.
“We’re off the bottom. We’ll enjoy that [but] I’m not jumping through hoops and no medals are being handed out for being off the bottom.
“We have to show the consistency.”
Eventful afternoon for Bournemouth and Solanke
Solanke has been enjoying a remarkable season in front of goal, but it seemed that it would be a forgettable day for both him and his team until Unal’s dramatic last-minute equalizer.
The former Chelsea and Liverpool striker entered the match aiming to match Joshua King’s Bournemouth record of 16 Premier League goals in a single campaign. However, after winning his team an early penalty, Solanke lost his footing at the critical moment.
Despite thinking he had pulled one back for the Cherries following a scramble in the box, the video assistant referee ruled that Solanke had handled the ball in the buildup, leading to the disallowance of his close-range finish.
With Antoine Semenyo, Ryan Christie, and Milos Kerkez all coming close in the first half, Bournemouth fans could have been forgiven for losing hope at that stage. However, Andoni Iraola’s side had different plans.
Substitute Ouattara, introduced at halftime, leaped highest to nod home at the near post, setting the stage for a frantic finale. Finally, Unal found the back of the net to open his account for the club, capping off a sustained period of pressure from the Cherries.
Luis Sinisterra came close to securing all three points for Bournemouth, who registered a total of 32 shots throughout the match, but his left-footed effort narrowly missed the far post.
Positives for Blades despite late leveller
Before the game, Wilder had expressed his belief that his struggling side still had some fight left in them, despite their precarious position at the bottom of the Premier League table. The Blades indeed showed resilience and determination on the south coast.
Understandably, following their humiliating 6-0 defeat to Arsenal just days prior, Sheffield United seemed lacking in confidence in the early stages as Bournemouth dominated proceedings.
However, Solanke’s missed penalty seemed to inject renewed energy into Wilder’s squad, who were eventually rewarded for their efforts when Hamer scored his third Premier League goal.
Despite conceding 18 goals in their previous five league matches, Sheffield United defended resolutely in the first half, with goalkeeper Ivo Grbic making crucial saves from Semenyo and Kerkez.
The Blades appeared poised to secure three crucial points after Robinson capitalized on Neto’s error to double their lead. However, the momentum shifted after Ouattara halved the deficit with just over 15 minutes of regular time remaining.
Although Unal breached their defense once again, Wilder can take encouragement from his team’s performance as he prepares to meet club owner Prince Abdullah in Riyadh next week.
