Bournemouth celebrated a historic first‑ever win at home in the Europa League after a 3‑0 victory over Sturm Graz on Thursday night. The hosts’ triumph, secured by goals from Brazilian centre‑forward Evanilson, midfielder Rayan Pérez and a late penalty from Álvaro Rodríguez, marked the club’s first European victory and lifted the pressure on new manager Marco Rose as the team looks ahead to a challenging Premier League campaign.
The match, played at the Vitality Stadium, began with a flurry of activity from the Austrian visitors. A corner in the 12th minute produced a moment that looked like an own goal, only for the ball to hit Bafode Diakité’s arm before finding the net. However, the goal was ruled a mistake and the game remained level. Bournemouth’s first breakthrough came in the 27th minute when a cross from the left was headed in by Evanilson after a skilful run from the right wing. The Brazilian’s first European goal was a powerful header that left the goalkeeper with no chance, and it was the first time the club had ever scored at home in a continental competition.
Sturm Graz pushed hard for an equaliser in the second half, but the visitors were unable to break the Bournemouth defence. In the 57th minute, Rayan Pérez added a second goal for the hosts, driving a low shot past the Austrian keeper after a quick one‑to‑one run. The Brazilian’s finish was a reminder of the attacking threat that Rose has been trying to build into the team. The third goal arrived in the 88th minute when Álvaro Rodríguez stepped up to take a penalty awarded after a handball by Jon Gorenc Stankovic. The 22‑year‑old, who joined the club in the summer, converted the spot‑kick to seal the win and extend the celebrations.
The victory comes at a time when Bournemouth are struggling in the Premier League, having lost 5‑1 to Chelsea earlier in the month and facing a difficult fixture against Sunderland. Rose, who has taken over from the previous manager, praised the squad’s resilience and the support of the fans. “If we stick together and play like this, we are hard to beat,” he said. “The fans are behind us, and that makes us stronger.”
Captain Adam Smith, who has been with the club for many years, described the win as a long‑time dream for the team and its supporters. “The fans were up for it, the players were up for it,” he said, adding that the victory was a sign that the club is moving in the right direction.
Bournemouth’s European success comes as the club prepares to host Milan in the next round of the Europa League. The match will offer another opportunity to showcase the team’s progress and to give the fans more reasons to celebrate. The club’s chairman, Bill Foley, is expected to attend the game from the VIP section, hoping to see the club’s fortunes continue to rise.