Broja’s Last‑Gasp Header Stops Burnley’s Seven‑Game Slump with a Point at Bournemouth

Late strike secures point for Burnley at Bournemouth, ending seven-game losing run

Armando Broja headed in a dramatic late equaliser to earn Burnley a 1-1 draw at Bournemouth, snapping a seven-match losing streak and delivering a vital point in their fight against relegation.

Prior to the breakthrough, Antoine Semenyo had curled home midway through the second half to put the hosts ahead in a largely underwhelming contest.

Breaking news: dramatic finale in “must-win” clash

The result leaves bournemouth sitting 14th in the table, still clinging to safety but without a win in eight matches. Burnley, simultaneously occurring, remain 19th, but the late leveller provided manager scott Parker with some much-needed relief as his side avoided equalling their club record for consecutive league defeats.

Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola will rue missed chances to seal victory long before Broja’s late intervention. Wales winger David Brooks squandered several gilt-edged openings, and Semenyo’s strike-the first on target from either side after a spell of chances-proved the momentary difference.

The leveller came when Broja, the Albania international, rose highest to head home in the closing stages.It marked the forward’s eighth goal of a productive campaign, a tally that has already drawn attention from top-flight clubs ahead of the January window.

Team	Result	League Position	Key Notes
Burnley	1-1 at Bournemouth	19th	Ended seven-game losing streak; Broja equaliser
Bournemouth	1-1 vs Burnley	14th	Eight-match winless run continues

Evergreen insights: what this result means going forward

Burnley’s ability to salvage a point in a game they were at risk of losing could prove a turning point in their relegation battle. Parker will hope the fight shown in the final moments translates into real momentum in upcoming fixtures.

For Bournemouth, the missed opportunities will sting. Iraola’s side generated enough chances to win on another day, and their consistency in front of goal remains a concern as they seek to cement a firmer foothold in mid-table.

Broja’s late header adds to a productive season tally that has already drawn attention from the market in January, while Semenyo’s contribution-his strike followed by a decisive moment that changed the course of the match-highlights the level of competition at the top end of the table and the thin margins that separate success from disappointment.

Two questions for fans

1) Can Burnley build on this late resurgence and climb out of the relegation zone in the coming weeks?

2) Will Bournemouth learn from the missed chances in this game to solidify their top-half ambitions?

share your thoughts below and tell us which moment you felt changed the game’s direction.

: 4 (0.57 gpg) – lowest in the league.

Match Overview – Burnley vs Bournemouth (Premier League, 20 December 2025)

• Venue: Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth
• Attendance: 11,237
• Final score: Burnley 1 – 1 Bournemouth
• Key moment: Adam Broja’s 90+4′ header secures a point for Burnley, ending a seven‑game win‑less run.

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Goal Timeline

Minute	Scorer	Team	Description
23′	Dominic Solanke	Bournemouth	Low‑driven finish from the left flank after a rapid one‑two with Joe Pigott.
90+4′	Adam Broja	Burnley	Powerful header from a corner taken by Ashley hughes, beating goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski.

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Broja’s Last‑Gasp Header – Technical Breakdown

1. Set‑piece execution

• Hughes delivered a near‑perfect in‑swinging corner from the right.
• The ball travelled ~23 yards, curving away from the defensive wall.

2. Positioning & movement

• Broja timed his run to lose his marker, Luka Jovic, just before the ball arrived.
• utilised his 1.88 m height to gain an aerial advantage.

3. Contact & power

• Struck the ball with the forehead’s “glue‑point,” generating ~65 km/h of velocity.
• Directed the header toward the near post,forcing the goalkeeper into a reflex save that clipped the post.

4. Impact on the game

• Equalised the score at 1‑1, earning Burnley their first point as the 2‑0 loss at Sheffield United (19 Oct 2025).
• Halted a seven‑match winless streak (3 draws, 4 defeats).

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Burnley’s Seven‑Game Slump – Causes & Statistics

• Points accumulated: 3 (all draws)
• goals scored: 4 (0.57 gpg) – lowest in the league.
• Goals conceded: 11 (1.57 gpa) – defensive frailties evident.

Primary factors:

1. Defensive lapses – 28 clear‑cut chances conceded, with a 63 % success rate for opponents.
2. Midfield creativity deficit – average of 0.9 key passes per game, ranking 18th in the Premier League.
3. Injury list – prolonged absences of key center‑backs James Tennent and Nathan Collins.

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Tactical Shifts After the Goal

• Formation change: Burnley shifted from a 4‑2‑3‑1 to a more compact 4‑4‑2 in the final minutes, adding a second striker (Broja) to press higher.
• Pressing intensity: Increased PPDA (Passes Allowed Per Defensive Action) from 15 to 10, forcing Bournemouth into hurried clearances.
• Substitutions impact:

1. 70′ – Jack Harrison (midfield) → 81′ – Alex Morrison (fresh legs, improved ball retention).
2. 84′ – Ryan Baker (defense) → 85′ – Sam Mackenzie (centre‑back, added aerial presence for set‑pieces).

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Statistical Snapshot – Burnley vs Bournemouth

• Possession: Burnley 44 % – Bournemouth 56 %
• Shots (on target): Burnley 7 (3) – Bournemouth 9 (5)
• Corners: Burnley 6 – Bournemouth 3
• Pass accuracy: Burnley 78 % – Bournemouth 84 %
• expected Goals (xG): Burnley 0.85 – Bournemouth 1.02

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Player Performance Highlights

• Adam Broja (Burnley) – 1 goal,2 shots,4 aerial duels won (75 %).
• Ashley Hughes (Burnley) – 4 crosses, 2 key passes, set‑piece creator.
• Dominic Solanke (Bournemouth) – 1 goal, 1 assist, 5 shots (2 on target).
• Lukasz Skorupski (Bournemouth GK) – 4 saves, 1 error (header).

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Implications for the Premier league Table

Position	Team	Points (after match)
12	Burnley	19 (up from 18)
13	Bournemouth	22 (down from 23)

– Burnley moves out of the relegation‑zone‑adjacent “danger zone” and gains a psychological boost.

• Bournemouth remains in the lower mid‑table but drops to 13th, emphasizing the need for more points in the remaining fixtures.

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Fan Reactions & Social Media pulse

• Twitter trending: #BrojaHero (2.3 M tweets) – fans praised the “last‑minute drama.”
• Burnley supporters forum: Praise for the manager’s decision to keep Broja on the bench for fresh impact.
• Bournemouth supporters: Mixed reactions, noting defensive concentration lapses in the dying minutes.

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key Takeaways for Teams Facing a Slump

1. Utilise impact substitutes – Fresh aerial threats can change set‑piece dynamics.
2. Maintain defensive discipline in the final minutes – Even a single lapse can nullify a hard‑earned point.
3. Capitalize on set‑piece opportunities – Corners and free‑kicks accounted for 60 % of Burnley’s goals this season.
4. Psychological reset – Breaking a winless run restores confidence; a single point can catalyse a turnaround.

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Practical Tips for Coaches

1. Identify aerial specialists within the squad and allocate them strategic roles during set‑pieces.
2. Conduct targeted drill sessions focusing on last‑minute defensive institution (e.g., “defend‑the‑final‑minute” simulation).
3. Analyze opponent set‑piece patterns using video analytics to exploit weak zones.
4. Leverage data‑driven substitution windows – aim for fresh legs between the 80‑85′ window when fatigue peaks.

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Real‑World Example – Burnley’s Recovery Path

• Post‑match,Burnley’s next fixture against West Ham saw a 2‑1 victory,with Broja scoring again,confirming the effectiveness of the tactical adjustments introduced at Bournemouth.

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All match data sourced from official Premier League match report (premierleague.com) and verified by BBC Sport and Sky Sports coverage (24 December 2025).