EVANILSON scored a magical goal as Bournemouth celebrated in style the first European home match in their 127-year history.
The Cherries’ marketing team had blown the budget pre-match with fireworks, flags on every seat and an impressive tifo in the North Stand that read: Minus 17 to European Dreams.
And a memorable night – particularly for those who had fought diligently to stop the club from going under and slipping out of the Football League – will be remembered for the moment of brilliance by their Brazilian striker.
In what has been a stop-start season, a stunning header from the club’s record signing opened the scoring on 43 minutes.
The Samba connection continued on 76 minutes thanks to a second goal from Rio-born Rayan, albeit a far scrappier one.
And then Uruguayan Alvaro Rodriguez scored a stoppage-time penalty to sink Sturm Graz and maintained the 100% start to the Europa League by Marco Rose’s side.
Whatever happened on the pitch, however, this was always going to be a historic moment for everyone connected to the club, with billionaire businessman Bill Foley making a rare visit to the Vitality Stadium.
Seventeen years ago, Bournemouth were bottom of League Two after a 17-points deduction for leaving administration without a Company Voluntary Agreement.
Nearly two decades later, here they were playing in continental competition for the first time – what a remarkable turnaround in fortunes it has been.
In the build-up, Andy Williams’s 1968 tune The Impossible Dream was belted out over the tannoy system.
And older fans would have been forgiven for wiping away the tears as videos of past matches, especially in the lower divisions, were displayed on the big screens.
Adam Smith is one person who truly appreciates this amazing journey, having started on the South Coast in 2010, first on loan, before a permanent move in 2014.
So, it was apt that the captain was involved in the opener, his clever cross finding the £31.5million Evanilson, whose instinctive header from 16 yards had the beating of Graz goalkeeper Daniil Khudyakov.
It was the only attempt on target in a drab first half but Bournemouth did not care – in terms of goals, they had popped their cherry at home in Europe.
Prior to that, Marcus Tavernier had scuffed wide a decent chance on 12 minutes and then later in the half, one of his strikes clipped a post – while Bafode Diakite had a goal rightly disallowed from a corner for handball.
Substitute Rayan, the other Brazilian in the first team, doubled the lead when Khudyakov spilled his catch from a corner and the South American’s shot sailed through a crowd of players.
The scoreline looked more emphatic come stoppage time when Rodriguez converted a spot-kick – Jon Gorenc Stankovic was at fault for blocking a James Hill shot with his arm.
Those two late goals were a cushion that gave Bournemouth some breathing space as Graz, league champions only last year, had earlier threatened to spoil the party.
The Austrians’ best chance came after the hour mark when Jurgen Heil struck a post and then the rebound from Jacob Peter Hodl was blocked by Bournemouth goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic.
About 500 Graz ‘Ultras’, all clad in black, marched to the ground from the town centre – a first for Dorset Police – creating lots of noise but without any nuisance.
They sang and banged their drums throughout the match but nothing their team could do was going to ruin Bournemouth’s big night.
