A sudden-death penalty shootout, a wonder strike, an extraordinary red card – awarded for an astonishing punch, kick and head-butt combination – and the very worst of video officiating: that will teach the television companies for making this the only FA Cup fifth-round tie not chosen for broadcast.
After all that drama, it is Bournemouth who continue to dream of Wembley, reaching the last eight for the third time in their history and gaining revenge for Wolves’s victory in this same fixture in the Premier League a week ago.
It was no more than they deserved but they went round the houses to get there. Only after Boubacar Traoré smashed his penalty against the crossbar did substitute Luis Sinisterra wrap things up, converting for a 5-4 shootout win after the game was deadlocked at 1-1 after extra-time.
Despite attempting 31 shots over the course of 120 minutes, Bournemouth’s only goal – that was allowed to stand – came from Evanilson, whose tap-in was cancelled out by a wondrous Matheus Cunha long-range strike.
It may well be the Brazilian’s last action for some time, with a lengthy ban expected for his sending-off in the final minute of extra time after a clash with Milos Kerkez. He is certain to miss crucial Premier League games against Everton, Southampton and West Ham, with fixtures against Ipswich and others in jeopardy if his suspension is extended.
“After this game the emotional side was very high,” said his manager Vítor Pereira. “A lot of pressure. In the end [Cunha’s reaction] is what can happen. It should not happen, but this is something that happens in football and we must deal with the situation.”
Given their superiority, Bournemouth should have put the game to bed long before spot-kicks.
“I don’t remember a game where we’ve been the best as clear as today,” said manager Andoni Iraola. “It’s difficult to explain that we didn’t win the game in 90 minutes or extra time. But sometimes that happens.”
Centre-half James Hill was the unlikely creator of their goal, threading a wonderful ball to Antoine Semenyo to bear down on goal. Sam Johnstone saved well, but his firm hand pushed the ball straight to Evanilson, who was gifted a first goal of the calendar year.
Five minutes later, Bournemouth thought they had doubled their lead, only for it to be ruled out after a protracted video assistant referee delay that sucked the life out of an otherwise invigorating afternoon.
A deep Bournemouth cross was bundled over the line from close range by a puzzling combination of Kerkez and Dean Huijsen. A laborious check for a potential handball from both men determined neither had definitively committed that offence, before attention then turned to a possible offside.
With the six-yard box too congested to employ the semi-automated offside technology that was meant to be in use for the first time this weekend, the referee, Sam Barrott, called both managers over to explain that the officials would need to take their time drawing their own lines.
It took what was almost certainly an English record of close to eight minutes before Barrott announced that Huijsen’s foot had strayed marginally offside; no matter that the ball went in off his shoulder.
Bournemouth again had the ball in the net in first-half injury time, but that, too, was chalked off. This time there was no controversy, with Alex Scott obviously palming the ball in.
As on so many occasions this season, Wolves’s attacking threat could be neatly summed up as Cunha and Cunha alone. The architect of almost every move, the Brazilian decided on the hour to forgo his team-mates and shoot himself. The result was a glorious dipping, swerving strike into the top corner from close to 30 yards.
Shocked into action by that unexpected equaliser, Bournemouth’s dominance grew with every minute, placing Johnstone’s goal under near-permanent siege. But, through a combination of last-ditch blocks, superb saves and goalline clearances, the visitors somehow took the game to penalties.
That Cunha was not on the pitch for them cost his side dear.
