Ighalo scores ridiculous goal as Watford pick away draw
A fine stop by Heurelho Gomes on the former
Crystal Palace striker ensured both teams earned
a point each at Vitality Stadium
A dreadful error from Artur Boruc and a missed
penalty from Glenn Murray cost Bournemouth as
they were held to a 1-1 draw by fellow Premier
League new boys Watford on Saturday.
Murray's first-half header on his full debut had
the hosts set to go into the break in front after
having the better of the first 45 minutes. Boruc,
though, gifted an equaliser to Odion Ighalo with a
poor pass just before half-time.
After struggling earlier on, Watford were much
better after the break and could have gone on to
win, with Ben Watson smashing an effort off the
crossbar.
But it is Bournemouth who will be more regretful
at not having secured three points after Murray
saw his spot-kick saved by Heurelho Gomes with
just seven minutes remaining.
The draw means the home side move on to eight
points from as many games, while the visitors go
up to 10 having lost just two of their first eight
matches in the top flight.
Bournemouth came close in the early stages
when Matt Ritchie's cross found Murray and the
striker's looping header drifted just over the
crossbar.
It was the same pair who combined again as the
home side opened the scoring on 28 minutes.
Simon Francis found Ritchie, who delivered an in-
swinging left-footed cross from the right and
Murray found space to power a header past
Gomes.
The home fans were unhappy prior to half-time
following a flashpoint between Etienne Capoue and
Murray. First, the Bournemouth forward went
down after the Frenchman had appeared to step
on his foot, before he took retribution with a heavy
challenge moments after, which earned him a
yellow card.
Just as it appeared Bournemouth were going to go
into the break with a comfortable one-goal lead,
Boruc's horror moment gifted Watford their
equaliser.
The goalkeeper had received a routine pass-back
from Sylvain Distin, before inexplicably passing
straight at Ighalo , allowing the in-form striker to
comfortably round him and tap into an empty net.
After the first half had produced so few chances,
the second got off to a flying start, with Watford
twice coming close.
Ighalo showed brilliant skill to beat Distin all ends
up and his threatening shot was hacked
away. Shortly after, Bournemouth failed to clear a
corner and Watson ran on to the loose ball to
smash a half-volley off the crossbar.
The visitors were enjoying an impressive spell of
dominance and Ikechi Anya forced Boruc into a
low save after being played in by a precise Almen
Abdi pass.
Having struggled for momentum in the second
half, Bournemouth did improve in the closing
stages and almost scored a spectacular second
when Steve Cook forced Gomes into a diving stop
with a brilliant overhead kick.
The home side then had a wonderful opportunity
to grab victory after Adam Smith was felled by a
clumsy Capoue challenge in the box. Murray,
though, was casual with his penalty and Gomes
got down to save, meaning an eventful contest
finished level.
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