In a thrilling encounter at the King Power Stadium, Leicester City secured their first victory of the Premier League season, defeating Bournemouth 1-0 on Saturday.
The decisive moment came courtesy of a sensational first-half strike from attacking midfielder Facundo Buonanotte, which delighted the home crowd and provided much-needed relief for manager Steve Cooper.
With this win, Leicester climbed to 15th place in the league standings, amassing six points from their first seven matches.
In contrast, Bournemouth slipped to 13th, now sitting on eight points. The pressure had been mounting on Cooper after a disappointing run of three losses and three draws in their previous six fixtures, making this result a welcome boost.
The game’s breakthrough arrived in the 16th minute when Buonanotte showcased his extraordinary talent. The 19-year-old Argentine received a perfectly lofted pass from full-back James Justin.
With an impressive burst of speed, Buonanotte controlled the ball, then unleashed a stunning left-footed strike that soared into the top corner, leaving Bournemouth’s goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga with no chance.
Earlier in the match, Buonanotte nearly opened the scoring in the eighth minute, demonstrating his skill by dancing through the Bournemouth defense before unleashing a powerful shot from 25 yards out, which was expertly saved by Arrizabalaga.
His performance throughout the first half was electric, as he continuously troubled the opposition.
Bournemouth, seeking to find a way back into the match, thought they had earned a penalty around the 25th minute when they appealed for a handball against Leicester center-back Illia Zabarnyi.
However, the referee waved away their protests, much to the frustration of the visitors.
Leicester’s captain, Jamie Vardy, had a golden opportunity to extend his side’s lead in the 26th minute but squandered it, firing wide from a promising position. This miss proved pivotal as Bournemouth grew into the game.
In the second half, Bournemouth began to apply pressure, and their persistence nearly paid off when defensive midfielder Lewis Cook thought he had equalized with a direct free-kick in the 65th minute. However, the goal was disallowed for offside, leaving the visitors with their heads in their hands.
As the match progressed, Leicester’s rhythm began to falter, but they dug deep to withstand a late surge from Bournemouth.
The home side’s resolute defense, bolstered by the commanding presence of their goalkeeper, ensured they held on for the victory, sending the home fans into raptures and bringing a sense of optimism back to the Leicester camp.
