Dango Ouattara’s second-half hat-trick inspired Bournemouth to a stunning 5-0 home victory over Nottingham Forest, reigniting their own Champions League ambitions.
The Cherries, fresh off a 4-1 demolition of Newcastle last weekend, continued their scintillating form under manager Andoni Iraola by dismantling Forest, who came into the match unbeaten in all competitions since early December and sitting third in the Premier League table.
Bournemouth set the tone early, with Justin Kluivert breaking the deadlock in the ninth minute. The Dutchman capitalized on poor defensive positioning, unleashing a 25-yard strike past Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels for his 11th league goal of the season.
The second half belonged to Ouattara, who unleashed a masterclass in finishing. He headed home Kluivert’s cross in the 55th minute before doubling his tally with a clinical finish just six minutes later. The hat-trick was sealed when Sels fumbled Marcus Tavernier’s shot, allowing Ouattara to pounce and complete his treble.
Bournemouth’s dominance was capped in stoppage time as Antoine Semenyo added a fifth, finishing off a solo run to deliver a resounding statement win for the Cherries.
The victory extended Bournemouth’s unbeaten Premier League run to a club-record 11 games, while Forest, previously one of the league’s surprise packages, were handed a harsh reality check.
With back-to-back emphatic victories over top-tier opponents, Bournemouth now sit within striking distance of an unprecedented Champions League spot, fueled by their unstoppable attacking momentum.
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