Mbuemo snatches late, late leveller for Brentford against Bournemouth

Brentford 2 (Jensen, 7, Mbuemo 90+3)

AFC Bournemouth 2 (Solanke 30, Brooks 77)

Att: 16,973

Bryan Mbuemo snatched a stoppage time equaliser for Brentford who drew 2-2 at home to Bournemouth this afternoon.

The Bees are still without a home win in the Premier League this season, but it could have been so much worse had it not been for Mbuemo’s point-saver.

Mathias Jensen gave the Bees the flying start they would have been hoping for after just seven minutes, but the South Coast side were the better team in the first half and deservedly equalised through Dominic Solanke on the half hour.

And despite being on the back foot for large parts of the second period, Bournemouth took the lead through David Brooks 13 minutes from time.

But Mbuemo saved the day for the Bees three minutes into injury time, running clear of the Bournemouth defence and planting a shot past Neto in the visitors’ goal.

Brentford would have been hoping for a rather simpler afternoon after taking such an early lead. Jansen whipped in a low free-kick from the left which took Neto by surprise, and he couldn’t keep it out at the near post.

Referee Robert Madley’s goal line technology watch seemed to be in need of repair, but after checking with the fourth official he pointed to the centre spot to signal the Bees’ early lead.

Bournemouth should have been level on 19 minutes. Ryan Christie ran unchallenged through a number of Brentford defenders before he found himself in front of only goalkeeper Mark Flekken, but Solanke seemed as surprised as anyone that the Bees’ defence had parted so easily, and got in the way of Christie being able to convert.

In what was a thrilling first half, a long ball then found Kevin Schade through on goal, but his shot was crucially deflected on to the post by the outstretched leg of Neto to prevent the home side from doubling their advantage.

Bournemouth responded. Philip Billing, a thorn in the Bees’ side all afternoon, used his power to win the ball in midfield, then found Christie, whose shot was just wide.

But the visitors were soon deservedly level, Solanke cutting inside Christian Norgaard and firing his shot past Neto.

And they were so close to taking the lead just before the break when Antoine Semenyo’s header from close range was kept out by Flekken.

Thomas Frank may have had some choice words for his team at half-time, and they started the second period much the better.

First Mbuemo somehow managed to curl a shot wide from barely eight yards with only the goalkeeper to beat, then Christie saw an effort saved by Neto.

At the other end Billing curled a shot over before Rico Henry set up Yoane Wissa, whose shot hit the post.

Norgaard then saw a header from a corner well saved before substitute Keane Lewis-Potter somehow managed to make a hash of Mbuemo’s cross when he comically kneed the ball against the far post when presented with an open goal at the near.

But just as it appeared the Bees looked the more likely side to snatch a second-half winner, Bournemouth went ahead, Marcus Tavernier squaring for fellow substitute Brooks, who calmly took the ball round Flekken and tapped home.

But the Bees never give up, and Mbuemo saved their blushes deep into added time.

“What they put you through,’” lamented a fan on his way out. Indeed. And that’s why there’s few divisions like the Premier League.

Teams:

Brentford: Flekken, Hickey (Olakigbe 82), Henry, Pinnock, Norgaard, Jensen (Ajer, 82), Schade (Lewis-Potter 71), Wissa, Mee (Collins 82), Mbuemo, Janelt (Onyeka, 71)

AFC Bournemouth: Neto, Kerkez, Cook, Solanke, Christie (Mepham 87), Kluivert (Tavernier, 71), Semenyo (Brooks, 60), Senesi, Zabarnyi, Billing, Aarons

Referee: Robert Madley