Bournemouth 4 Luton 3: Semenyo completes epic Cherries comeback after Hatters charged into three-goal lead
TOM LOCKYER made an emotional return in the stands as his Luton side lost a Premier League classic from 3-0 up.
Antoine Semenyo struck two brilliant goals as Bournemouth‘s second-half turnaround sealed their first home league win since Boxing Day.
But at least the lowly Hatters were cheered by the sight of Lockyer watching on fit and healthy.
The Luton skipper “died” for two minutes at the Vitality Stadium 89 days ago when his heart stopped beating.
And on Wednesday night he was smiling then applauding his team-mates as they raced 3-0 up at the interval.
Tahith Chong, Chiedozie Ogbene and Ross Barkley took full advantage of naive Bournemouth defending.
Lockyer suffered a cardiac arrest on this pitch in December, with his team-mates in tears as they feared the worst before the match was abandoned.
And before Wednesday’s kick-off the Wales international shook the hands of the four paramedics who saved his life.
Then he walked to the centre of the pitch clapping both sets of fans, giving the away supporters the thumbs up sign.
The home club band struck up “The Great Escape” in the pre-match entertainment which was fittingly appropriate on the night.
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Bournemouth midfielder Philip Billing was the first player to react to Lockyer’s plight in the first game and instantly summoned for help.
Billing revealed in last night’s programme: “It was just a natural reaction to try and help him, even though I don’t feel like I did anything.
“Credit has to go to the medical people, they’re the life savers.
“I didn’t know until after the game and in the tunnel that his girlfriend was pregnant at the time, and things like that come before football.
“Being there for his child is more important than football, at the end of the day, so it is beautiful to see him back on his feet and being with his family.”
Rob Edwards’ desperate eyes were full of tears the last time we saw the Luton gaffer in these parts-but it wasn’t long in the match when he was full of smiles.
That was in the ninth minute when the unmarked Chong thundered a header high into the net from Issa Kabore’s cross.
Then a wonderful move by the Hatters saw Chong find Alfie Doughty who set-up Ogbene for the second on 31 minutes.
And in first half stoppage time Barkley was left alone to smash Issa Kabore’s pass into the top corner.
But the great Cherries’ fight-back started on 50 minutes when Dominic Solanke turned smartly and fired home his 17th goal which was given after a VAR check.
Then 12 minutes later the Cherries had a second when goal-line technology confirmed that Illia Zabarnyi’s header was over the line before Doughty cleared.
And amazingly it was 3-3 two minutes later when Ghana striker Semenyo cut inside and found the corner with a low shot.
But Semenyo wasn’t finished.
He took a return pass from sub Enes Unal and beat goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski at his near post for the winner.
