EPL: Bournemouth Move Closer to Top Four with Emphatic Win Over Forest

Bournemouth secured a dominant 5-0 win over Nottingham Forest, with Dango Ouattara's hat-trick helping the Cherries move up the Premier League table.

Dango Ouattara's hat-trick propelled Bournemouth to a resounding 5-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at the Vitality Stadium, extending their unbeaten run in the Premier League to 11 matches. This impressive win maintained Bournemouth's strong form, with seven wins and four draws during this period.

A five-star performance from @afcbournemouth ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#BOUNFO pic.twitter.com/7eUrWrhI7I

— Premier League (@premierleague) January 25, 2025

Bournemouth's attacking prowess proved to be their best defense, as they adopted a front-foot approach from the outset. This strategy paid off in the ninth minute, as Justin Kluivert capped off a clinical counter-attack with a fine finish into the corner of the net, reminiscent of his father Patrick's playing style.

In response to falling behind, Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White fired a snapshot from inside the area inches wide of the post. Bournemouth continued to threaten, with Ryan Christie and Antoine Semenyo forcing Matz Sels into significant saves to keep the deficit at one for the visitors. Sels produced an impressive double save, first preventing Christie's rebounded effort and then denying Semenyo after a promising solo run.

Back-to-back @afcbournemouth hat-trick heroes 🎩

Dango Ouattara scored three against Nott'm Forest, a week after Justin Kluivert did the same against Newcastle! pic.twitter.com/oklX41J6s0

— Premier League (@premierleague) January 25, 2025

As the half-time whistle approached, Bournemouth's lead was well-deserved. With a one-goal advantage, Andoni Iraola's side was just 45 minutes away from closing the gap on the top four to a single point. The stage was set for an exciting second half, with Bournemouth poised to capitalize on their momentum.

Bournemouth nearly doubled their lead immediately after the restart, but Dango Ouattara's shot was comfortably saved by Matz Sels. However, the Cherries' persistence paid off in the 55th minute, as Justin Kluivert's exquisite delivery into the box allowed Ouattara to head home and extend the hosts' lead.

The first-ever player from Burkina Faso to net a @premierleague hat-trick 😍🇧🇫 pic.twitter.com/DbDiv1fNkx

— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) January 25, 2025

Bournemouth continued to threaten, and Kluivert thought he had scored his second goal of the afternoon just three minutes later. However, VAR intervened, ruling out the goal due to a marginal offside in the build-up. Undeterred, the Cherries sealed the victory in the 62nd minute, as Tyler Adams' defense-splitting pass allowed Ouattara to cut inside and slot the ball past Sels into the far corner.

Nottingham Forest's woes deepened as the game wore on. Ouattara completed his hat-trick by clinically converting from close range after Sels failed to deal with a fierce effort from distance. Antoine Semenyo then added a fifth goal from inside the area, capping off a resounding victory for Bournemouth.

The Cherries' spectacular season continues, with 11 wins, 7 draws, and 5 losses. Bournemouth remains in contention for a UEFA Champions League spot next season, and their fans dare to dream of a top-four finish. Meanwhile, despite suffering their first defeat in nine matches across all competitions, Nottingham Forest remains four points ahead of their nearest top-four challengers.