Rayan opens Bournemouth account to secure draw at home to Aston Villa

Rayan’s first goal in English football ensured Bournemouth split the points with Aston Villa in an entertaining 1-1 draw at the Vitality Stadium.

Morgan Rogers opened the scoring for the visitors against the run of play in the 22nd minute, and while the Cherries outshot Villa 13-2 in the first half – five of them on target – they could not capitalise on their chances before the break.

Rayan came close, clipping the crossbar in the first half before opening his Cherries account 10 minutes into the second.

Villa boss Unai Emery benefitted from a big afternoon from goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who made four first-half saves and another three after the break.

The visitors started on the front foot but it was Bournemouth who enjoyed the first real chance when the unmarked Alex Scott latched on to a loose ball from a central position and took a few paces forward.

However, his seventh-minute shot was critically blocked by Amadou Onana, who then intervened on a Junior Kroupi effort as the Cherries started to heat up.

It took a double save by Martinez to deny Kroupi, then the diving Evanilson, who tried to nod home after the Villa keeper spilled the initial save.

Bournemouth played an 18th-minute free-kick short and Kroupi threatened again, this time with a low effort just wide of the right post.

The visitors had scarcely ventured into the Cherries final third until Rogers, cleverly teed up by the patient Jadon Sancho, made a rare chance count, powering a shot past the hapless Djordje Petrovic at his near post.

The hosts were plagued by their failure to find the finishing touch as Scott dragged another effort wide, then stung the palms of Martinez, who prevented Evanilson equalising from the follow-up.

Rayan came closer still,