Bournemouth 1-1 Sunderland Player Ratings: Evanilson's Header Secures A Point At Home for the Cherries Against A Brave Sunderland Side

A tense Premier League battle at the Vitality Stadium concluded with honors even as AFC Bournemouth and Sunderland played out a hard-fought 1-1 draw. It felt like a classic case of one team starting strong and the other finishing with a flourish.

Sunderland burst out of the gates, looking the more dangerous side. Their early pressure paid off handsomely. In the 18th minute, Eliezer Mayenda found himself in the perfect spot to pounce.

He slotted home from close range to give the visitors a deserved lead. The away end erupted, and for a while, it seemed like it might be their day.

However, AFC Bournemouth showed immense character to claw their way back into the match. The second half was a different story entirely. The Cherries came out with renewed purpose, and their persistence was rewarded when substitute Evanilson rose highest to head in an equalizer in the 63rd minute.

The goal was brilliantly set up by a pinpoint cross from the standout Marcus Tavernier. The rest of the game was a tense affair, with both sides searching for a winner that never came.

Bournemouth looked to be more threatening of the two in the last few minutes, but the home side had to settle for a point in the end.

Here are the Bournemouth vs Sunderland Player Ratings.

Key Takeaways

• Although Bournemouth had more possession, both teams were quite close in terms of xG (1.43-1.42).
• Alex Scott won the most ground duels in the game (10).
• Rayan had the most key passes in this Premier League fixture (3).

Bournemouth Player Ratings vs Sunderland

Have a look at the Bournemouth Player Ratings from the Bournemouth vs Sunderland Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Djordje Petrovic - 6.5: Made a few important saves, especially from inside the box, to keep his team in the game. He couldn't do much about the goal, which was a close-range finish. His distribution was decent, and he claimed the ball well under pressure. A solid, if not spectacular, performance from the man between the sticks.

Defenders

Álex Jiménez - 6.5: The defender had an adventurous game. He wasn't afraid to get forward and even had a few shots from distance. Defensively, he was solid, making a couple of key tackles and interceptions. He did get dribbled past once, but his overall contribution was positive. A decent outing.

James Hill - 7.0: What stood out to us was his dominance in the air. Winning 9 of his 10 aerial duels is an incredible stat. He was a constant thorn in the side of Sunderland's attackers during set-pieces. He also made 5 crucial clearances. A very commanding performance at the back.

Marcos Senesi - 6.5: The captain had a very busy afternoon. He had the most touches on his team, trying to build from the back. He made some important tackles, including a last-man tackle. However, he also lost a few duels and committed some fouls. A mixed bag, but his leadership was evident.

Adrien Truffert - 7.0: A really tidy performance from the left-back. He was excellent on the ball with high passing accuracy. He was also strong defensively, winning most of his duels and making key interceptions. We noticed he was always an option on the overlap, contributing to both defense and attack.

Midfielders

Tyler Adams - 6.5: A typically combative display from Adams before he was substituted. He was everywhere in midfield, winning 8 duels and making 3 tackles. He picked up a yellow card for his troubles, which summed up his all-action style. He did his job effectively to disrupt Sunderland's rhythm.

Alex Scott - 6.5: He was a bundle of energy in the midfield. He won a good number of duels and made several key interceptions. However, his final product was lacking. We were disappointed that he missed a big chance and was wasteful in possession at times. An energetic performance that lacked a cutting edge.

David Brooks - 5.5: A very quiet first half for the captain, who was substituted at halftime. He struggled to get on the ball and influence the game. He didn't seem to find his rhythm and was largely anonymous. A disappointing outing for a player of his quality.

Rayan - 6.5: He showed glimpses of his creativity, creating a couple of chances for his teammates. His passing was neat and tidy, helping to link the midfield and attack. He worked hard off the ball but drifted in and out of the game. A decent, if unspectacular, performance.

Marcus Tavernier - 8.0: Our Man of the Match. He was the most dangerous player on the pitch for AFC Bournemouth. He provided the crucial assist for the equalizer with a brilliant cross. He was a constant threat with his four shots and driving runs. An outstanding performance that dragged his team back into the game.

Forwards

Eli Kroupi - 6.0: It was a frustrating day for the young attacker. He worked hard and made some good runs, but he was often isolated. He had a couple of shots but couldn't find the back of the net. He lost the ball a few too many times for our liking. A difficult day at the office.

Substitutes

Evanilson - 7.5: The perfect impact substitute. He came on at halftime and changed the game. His powerful header for the equalizer was exactly what his team needed. He brought a new level of energy and threat to the attack.

Ryan Christie - 6.0: Came on for Tyler Adams and provided fresh legs in midfield. He was neat and tidy in possession, but didn't have a major impact on the game.

Enes Ünal - N/A: Came on too late to make a significant impact.

Amine Adli - N/A: Introduced late in the game with not enough time to influence the play.

Manager

A. Iraola - 7.0: His halftime changes, especially bringing on Evanilson, proved to be a masterstroke. His team showed great character to come from behind. He got his tactics right in the second half to earn a valuable point.

Sunderland Player Ratings vs Bournemouth

Have a look at the Sunderland Player Ratings from the Bournemouth vs Sunderland Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Robin Roefs - 6.0: Made four saves, including some good stops to deny AFC Bournemouth. However, we felt he was a bit shaky at times, and an error from him led to a shot. He also picked up a yellow card. A mixed performance from the keeper.

Defenders

Lutsharel Geertruida - 6.0: A tough afternoon for the defender. He battled hard but only won half of his duels. He was caught out of position a couple of times and committed a few fouls. He struggled to cope with the pace of Bournemouth's attacks in the second half.

Dan Ballard - 6.5: He was a busy man at the back, making 7 clearances. He was strong in the tackle and positioned himself well. His distribution could have been better, as he lost possession a few times. He also missed a good headed chance late in the game.

Omar Alderete - 7.0: A real warrior at the back for Sunderland. He made an incredible 11 clearances and won most of his duels. From our perspective, he was his team's best defender. A no-nonsense, commanding display that kept his side organized.

Trai Hume - 6.5: The captain led by example with a solid defensive performance. He made a crucial last-man tackle that saved a certain goal. He was strong in the challenge and read the game well. A reliable performance from the skipper.

Midfielders

Granit Xhaka - 6.5: The veteran midfielder put in a solid shift. He was combative in the middle of the park, winning duels and drawing fouls. However, he didn't dictate the tempo of the game as he usually does. A hardworking but relatively quiet performance by his standards.

Noah Sadiki - 5.5: He had an early shot saved but struggled to impose himself on the game after that. He picked up a yellow card and looked a bit off the pace. He was dribbled past a couple of times and lost possession too easily. A difficult day for the young midfielder.

Habib Diarra - 6.0: He was a threat with his shooting, testing the keeper a couple of times. However, he was wasteful in possession and made a couple of errors. He worked hard but lacked the quality in the final third to make a real difference.

Enzo Le Fée - 6.5: A neat and tidy performance from the midfielder. He created a couple of chances and had a high pass completion rate. He linked up play well but didn't have a decisive impact on the match. A solid but unspectacular outing.

Chemsdine Talbi - 5.0: We were very disappointed with his performance. He struggled to get into the game at all. He lost almost all of his duels and gave the ball away frequently. It was no surprise to see him substituted.

Forwards

Eliezer Mayenda - 7.0: The hero for Sunderland, scoring the opening goal with a poacher's finish. He worked tirelessly up front, although he struggled in the air against Bournemouth's defenders. His goal is what matters, and he took his chance brilliantly.

Substitutes

Bertrand Traoré - 5.5: Came on for the ineffective Chemsdine Talbi but failed to make a significant impact on the game.

Nilson Angulo - 6.0: Replaced Granit Xhaka and looked lively. He won a free kick in a dangerous position and showed some nice touches.

Manager

R. Le Bris - 6.5: His team started the game brightly and took a deserved lead. He set his team up to be difficult to beat. While they couldn't hold on for the win, securing a point away from home at the Vitality Stadium is a credible result. His substitutions didn't have the desired impact, though.

Man of the Match

Marcus Tavernier was our man of the match in this Premier League game.

Worst Performer

Chemsdine Talbi was the worst performer in the Bournemouth vs Sunderland game.