Bournemouth wrote their name into the history books on Thursday night, defeating Sturm Graz 3-0 at the Vitality Stadium to claim their first-ever victory in a home European fixture.

The result keeps the Cherries perfect in the UEFA Europa League, making it two wins from two in the competition — all the more impressive given their stuttering start to the Premier League campaign.

Evanilson opens the scoring in style

The opening goal arrived just before the interval and it was well worth the wait. Captain Adam Smith — who joined Bournemouth when the club were playing in England's third tier 16 years ago — delivered a superb cross, and Evanilson met it with a curling header from 15 yards that swept past the goalkeeper to score the first-ever European goal at the Vitality Stadium.

Sturm Graz pushed back after the break and came close to levelling just after the hour mark. Jurgen Heil rattled the woodwork with a fierce effort, and goalkeeper Djorde Petrovic was then called upon to deny Jacob Hodl's follow-up with his legs.

Rayan and Rodríguez put the result beyond doubt

Bournemouth's second goal owed much to a goalkeeping error. Daniil Khudyakov spilled a corner under no great pressure, and fellow Brazilian Rayan pounced on the loose ball, drilling a low shot that squirmed straight through the goalkeeper's outstretched hands in the 76th minute.

In second-half stoppage time, the Cherries were awarded a penalty after Jon Gorenc Stankovic fouled James Hill inside the box — again following a Bournemouth corner. Summer arrival Alvaro Rodríguez stepped up and cheekily chipped the spot kick into the net for his first goal in a Bournemouth shirt, completing a comfortable 3-0 win.

What's next for the Cherries

The victory lifts Bournemouth to fifth in the Europa League league phase standings. Next Thursday, they welcome Ruben Amorim's AC Milan to the Vitality Stadium — a fixture that promises to be the biggest European night in the club's history.