Bournemouth Beat 10-Man Sunderland 2-0 in Premier League Opener

Bournemouth claimed their first Premier League win of the campaign with a controlled 2-0 victory over Sunderland at the Vitality Stadium, with Brazilian striker Evanilson at the heart of everything. The match was effectively decided inside 20 minutes after a chaotic opening spell that saw Sunderland reduced to 10 men.

Marcus Tavernier broke the deadlock in the sixth minute, heading home after Evanilson unselfishly set him up rather than shooting himself — a moment that showcased the Brazilian's maturity. Sunderland's night worsened dramatically in the 17th minute when central defender Kevin Danso was dismissed for hauling down Evanilson, who had latched onto a ball over the top and was the last man. Referee Craig Pawson showed no hesitation in producing the red card.

Despite the man advantage, Bournemouth couldn't extend their lead before the break, with Evanilson spurning a gilt-edged chance by curling over an open net after goalkeeper Robin Roefs came off his line too early. Sunderland, to their credit, managed to keep the score at 1-0 through halftime — though they failed to register a single shot on target all match.

The decisive second goal arrived just three minutes after the restart, gifted by another Sunderland error. Defender Omar Alderete's dreadful backpass let Evanilson in, and he calmly rounded Roefs before slotting into the corner — his third goal in as many games across all competitions, and notably his 100th career goal as a professional. Justin Kluivert squandered a late chance to add a third, but Bournemouth closed out the result comfortably.