Anass Zaroury might have learned a thing or two about what it takes to get through knockout competitions at the World Cup.
The young winger was involved in one of the stories of the tournament as part of the Morocco squad who became the first African country to reach the semi-finals before eventually finishing fourth in Qatar.
Now returned to domestic duty, Zaroury brought some of that magic touch with him to the Vitality Stadium, scoring twice – as his teammate Manuel Benson did – to help send in-form Championship leaders Burnley into the fourth round at struggling, Premier League Bournemouth’s expense.
Manuel Benson scored in each half as Burnley booked their place in the FA Cup fourth round
Benson’s second goal seal victory for the Championship leaders against Bournemouth
Zaroury’s second goal, the highlight of the game, was certainly worthy of the biggest stage, a slick team move rounded off when he chipped the ball cheekily between two Bournemouth players, got it back from Josh Brownhill and nutmegged two more opponents before firing Burnley into a 3-1 lead.
Burnley manager Vincent Kompany said of Zaroury, a summer signing from Belgian side Charleroi: ‘It felt like it [his second goal] announced his comeback because he came back from the World Cup and definitely did nothing wrong but you could see he was catching up a little bit physically.
‘He has the technical ability in tight spaces that is not easy to teach.
‘We started the beginning of the season with a kid that needs to prove he can play not just for Burnley but in English football in the Championship.
‘Fast forward six months and we’ve got a superstar who comes back from a tour in front of millions of people in the Moroccan streets and a semi-final of the World Cup experience that not only made us proud but the whole of Morocco and Africa really.’
Benson opened the scoring with a powerful first time finish in the sixth minute of the contest
Four of the games other goals were not quite in the same calibre as Zaroury’s second.
They were instead simply ammunition for critics of teams over-playing too close to their own goal.
Bournemouth, in front of watching new owner Bill Foley, gifted Burnley the opener, the visitors repaid the favour before the Cherries decided to play generous hosts once more.
Burnley’s final strike also came courtesy of sloppy Bournemouth defending though Kompany was keen to point out the work his side put in to force the errors they ultimately exploited.
Burnley’s staunch loyalty to their methods is understandable. Manager and two-times FA Cup winner Kompany’s passing approach is one that has helped his side emerge as Championship leaders and pull clear of the chasing pack.
Ryan Christie seized on a loose pass for equalise for the hosts in a dramatic opening to the tie
Bournemouth’s reasoning for inviting pressure on themselves was a little harder to make sense of.
They had already been struggling to keep the ball out of their net before this tie and have now conceded 12 times in losing all five games since the season’s post-World Cup resumption.
The first they shipped against Burnley came when Marcos Senesi passed straight to Johann Gudmundsson who slipped in Benson to score.
Burnley’s confidence, further enhanced by the early goal, was evident as they kept possession with ease.
But it briefly appeared an over-confidence when Josh Cullen made a rare passing mistake, playing the ball across his own box straight to Ryan Christie who finished first-time.
Never mind, there was another favour coming Burnley’s way when Lewis Cook passed to Ashley Barnes who slipped in Josh Brownhill to tee up Zaroury for his first.
Four minutes later he had his standout second goal, ensuring Bournemouth were booed off at the break, and Gary O’Neil’s half-time triple change, with captain Lloyd Kelly among those introduced, was little surprise.
Anass Zaroury capitalised on poor defending to score twice before half-time
Zaroury’s second goal on the stroke of half-time gave the Clarets a two goal cushion
Zaroury’s second goal led to Bournemouth being booed off by their home supporters
It paid off almost immediately with fellow sub Kieffer Moore involved before Dom Solanke beat Bailey Peacock-Farrell at the second attempt.
But after the twinkle-toed Zaroury threatened again, Kelly’s pass and Christie’s misplaced back-header led to Benson making it 4-2 to seal Burnley’s progress, a 12th win in their last 14 games and a result that may constitute a shock on paper but was not much of a surprise in reality.
O’Neil said: ‘I feel the same frustration as the supporters. The three huge errors for the goals make it impossible to win the match. Give away three ridiculous goals and you have no chance.
‘It’s a really disappointing day. We need to get the group back to where it was before the break.’
Dominic Solanke’s reduced the deficit with a close range head at the start of the second half
Vincent Kompany’s side will take their place in the FA Cup fourth round draw