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January 2, 2018

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League鈥檚 first match of 2018 ends in 2-2 draw

Bournemouth twice came from behind to draw a thrilling south coast derby with Brighton & Hove Albion 2-2 at the Amex Stadium in the first Premier League game of the year.

Bournemouth began the game in a precarious position five points worse off than last New Year鈥檚 Day. They got off to the worst possible start in the fifth minute when Brighton鈥檚 Anthony Knockaert rounded off a flowing move by squeezing the ball in at the far post for his second goal of the season.

The goal was Brighton鈥檚 fastest ever in the Premier League. However, it was far from one-way traffic and both keepers were kept busy before Steve Cook equalized against the club where he began his career with a clever back-flick header from a corner on 33 minutes.

Glenn Murray also scored against his former side to restore Brighton鈥檚 lead at the start of the second half and the home side should have had a third when man of the match Jose Izquierdo shot instead of passed to Davy Propper, who was perfectly placed to score.

Bournemouth took full advantage and, after Jordan Ibe hit a post, equalized for the second time after a protracted scramble in the area from another corner. The ball fell to Callum Wilson who stuck out a boot to divert the ball into the net.

The result left both teams hovering above the relegation zone. Cook said: 鈥淣ormally when you score twice away from home you expect to win but I think it was a fair result and completed a good Christmas for us.鈥


 

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