Everton gave Goodison Park a fitting farewell after Iliman Ndiaye scored twice to give the home side a 2-0 victory over already-relegated Southampton on Sunday as the “Grand Old Lady” hosted its final Premier League game after 133 years.
Everton’s win in their penultimate match of the season — but last game at Goodison before moving to a new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock — left David Moyes’ side 13th on 45 points. Bottom-placed Southampton have 12 points from 37 games.
Tears and cheers greeted the Everton team introductions on an emotional afternoon and it took Ndiaye less than six minutes to spark bedlam when he took the ball on the half-turn before driving towards goal and curling a shot into the bottom corner.
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The 25-year-old Senegal international completed his double in first-half injury time when James Garner played a ball through two defenders and Ndiaye beat goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale with a dummy and then tapped into the empty net.
With Tim Cahill, Wayne Rooney, Duncan Ferguson and dozens of other Everton greats watching, the hosts ran roughshod over Saints, who did little to spoil the party. The score could have been more lopsided as Beto had two goals ruled out for offside.
