- Facundo Buonanotte scored an excellent goal to seal Leicester’s victory
- Evanilson’s second-half header for Bournemouth was disallowed for offside.
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Steve Cooper finally achieved his first Premier League victory as Leicester City manager, at the seventh attempt, thanks to a magnificent goal from Argentine teenager Facundo Buonanotte.
The 19-year-old striker, on loan from Brighton, scored an excellent goal in the first half, but Leicester experienced some nervous moments afterwards.
Bournemouth hit the woodwork twice after the break, and Evanilson was ruled offside when he lightly touched a Lewis Cook free-kick.
It was Cooper’s first Premier League win since last November, when he was with Nottingham Forest, as well as the first time he beat Bournemouth as a manager.
But the Welshman will now only worry about overtaking Leicester and taking advantage of this result.
Leicester achieved their first victory of the season in their seventh attempt against Bournemouth
An outstanding goal from Argentine teenager Facundo Buonanotte secured the victory for the Foxes
Buonanotte’s pace surprised the Bournemouth defense and scored with a powerful shot
Cooper made a big call before the match when Harry Winks was left on the bench for the first time since joining Leicester last year.
The club’s fans had turned against the manager in recent weeks, so Cooper’s show notes responded to that when he called for “confidence” as the team worked hard “towards a clearly defined way of playing.”
Buonanotte soon began to influence the game after Bournemouth got off to a bright start. He saw a shot deflected over the bar by Bournemouth goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, but then started and finished a magnificent move to put Leicester ahead.
He played a one-two on the right with winger James Justin and cut into the 18-yard box.
Buonanotte’s pace surprised the Bournemouth defense and he scored with a powerful shot from eight yards.
Leicester could (and perhaps should) have extended their lead before the break. The Foxes appeared to have a clear case for a penalty after 24 minutes when Stephy Mavididi’s cross hit Illia Zabarnyi’s hand.
Referee Darren Bond signaled for play to continue and the PGMOL later posted on social media that “the arm was in a natural position and the ball was played from very close range.”
But Jamie Vardy was then guilty of a rare failure in front of goal.
Buonanotte put the veteran striker through, but his shot went wide. It would have provided Leicester with a much-needed cushion, but as things stood, they never looked entirely comfortable.
Bournemouth then controlled much of the second half and looked to expose Leicester on set pieces.
Zabarnyi headed against the post in the 48th minute after connecting with a perfect delivery from Lewis Cook.
Ryan Christie then took advantage of the hesitation in the Leicester defense and his well-placed shot was pushed into a corner by goalkeeper Mads Hermansen.
Jamie Vardy was guilty of a rare miss in front of goal after firing a shot wide.
Evanilson’s (centre) second-half header for Bournemouth was disallowed for offside.
Steve Cooper now achieves his first Premier League victory as Leciester manager
But Andoni Iraola’s men seemed to have equalized the score in the 66th minute.
Cook’s free kick appeared to go straight into the box. But Evanilson headed and was ruled offside when he passed the ball over Hermansen.
Bournemouth hit the crossbar again with 18 minutes remaining and two substitutes combined. Luis Siniserra’s cross found Dango Ouatarra who headed against the post.