Bournemouth captain Ryan Christie has admitted his shock at Antoine Semenyo’s opening goal in the recent draw with Leeds United.
There was a hint of controversy over Bournemouth’s opening goal, as Anton Stach was adjudged to have committed a foul, much to the frustration of Leeds boss Daniel Farke.
Speaking exclusively to Leeds United News, former referee Mark Clattenburg backed the decision to award the free kick, a view also shared by former Leeds forward Jermaine Beckford.
Christie spoke highly of Leeds after the game, admitting that Farke’s side had got under Bournemouth’s skin at times and thrown them off their rhythm.
Now, he has admitted that Semenyo did something he has never seen before with his free-kick, which proved crucial to the final result.
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Ryan Christie shocked by Antoine Semenyo’s free-kick vs Leeds United
Speaking to the Bournemouth Daily Echo after the game, Christie praised Semenyo’s ability to create something from nothing after his free-kick put the Cherries into the lead at Elland Road.
According to Christie, Semenyo, the Bournemouth winger, is likely to prove deadly from set pieces this season with his unique ball-striking ability.
The Bournemouth captain said: “[Semenyo] is one of those players who can make something out of nothing.
“I know that kind of free kick suits him down to the ground. I’ve never seen somebody kick a ball so hard in my life, to be honest.”
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Questions remain for Daniel Farke over defensive set-up from set pieces
Although Karl Darlow will likely concur with Christie’s assessment that Semenyo’s free-kick was unstoppable, goals from set pieces are becoming a worrying trend for Leeds United this season.
Leeds have conceded nine goals in the Premier League this season, including five in the heavy defeat against Arsenal, and a significant proportion have come from set pieces.
Leeds’ goals conceded in the Premier League:
- Total Goals Against: 9
- Goals conceded from open play: 3
- Goals from corners: 4
- Goals from direct free-kicks: 1
- Penalties: 1
Three of Arsenal’s goals came from set pieces in that game, with two scored from corners and one penalty. Gabriel Gudmundsson’s unfortunate own goal against Fulham also came from a late corner, before Bournemouth scored two from dead balls this weekend.
As a result, six of the nine goals that Leeds have conceded this season have been from set pieces. Like the last-minute equalisers that Farke’s side have conceded, it threatens to transform from bad luck to a worrying trend.
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