When the Goodison Park history books are printed, they will show Iliman Ndiaye scored the final twoPremier Leaguegoals at the grand old stadium. It was not an afternoon about the actual football asGoodison said goodbyeto men’s football, mercifully, for the home support, with a simple win for Everton against Southampton.
No one cared about the quality on show, which was a relief as the match felt like a sideshow. Ndiaye lit it up, however, and walked off with the match ball despite falling one short of a hat-trick. The forward was the difference, ensuring the final memories for those who stayed faithful toEvertonthrough the thick and often thin in recent years were rewarded with a fitting end.
After the first game of David Moyes’s second reign,Evertonwere a point above the relegation zone with three wins from 20 games. At that time this match looked like a potential six-pointer. It instead was a party in radiant sunshine to celebrate 132 years of Everton’s home.
No one inside Goodison Park required anything to improve the atmosphere but a stunning solo goal from Ndiaye in the sixth minute shook the foundations. The 25-year-old drifted through fluorescent shirts and calmly slotted into the bottom corner from the edge of the box. Cue a new wave of blue flares.
Southampton were very polite guests, allowing the hosts to enjoy themselves, after thedraw at Manchester Citylast week ensured they would not go down as the worst team in Premier League history.
The Saints are a team in limbo, desperately waiting for their holidays to begin and to find out who their new permanent head coach will be. Talks have been held withTom Cleverley and Will Stillover the vacancy, and whoever gets the role will need to re-energise a team whose morale is at rock bottom. They lacked energy, ideas and overall quality to ensure Everton had the leaving party they wanted.
The fixture settled into a rhythm of an end-of-season dead rubber. Everton were on top and were the only side threatening to score. They should have had a second when James Garner countered down the right, sliding the ball across for Beto in the area to slot into the corner. Unfortunately the striker decided he needed to be half-a-yard offside and his effort was ruled out.
There was further pain for Beto when he rose highest to head home a Ashley Young cross after he had been brought on in the 18th minute for a final Everton hurrah. It was a superb move but Beto was again offside, as VAR confirmed.
Ndiaye will be part of the new era at the club’s new home at Bramley-Moore dock, which it was announced on Friday will becalled the Hill Dickinson Stadium.He is a player Everton have rarely seen in recent times; a skillful performer capable of producing moments of magic, offering a final one to Goodison Park as he latched onto a Dwight McNeil through ball, showed the quickest of feet to bamboozle Aaron Ramsdale before tapping into the empty net in first-half injury-time. VAR threatened to dampen the mood for a third time but, thankfully, Ndiaye was onside.
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The result was not in doubt after that, leaving the second half to feel like an inconvenience for those who had lined the streets around the ground since 9am. Somewhat tired and emotional, they were waiting for the post-match events to bring down the final curtain, as the football on offer was increasingly pedestrian, played in front of a subdued audience who might not have noticed if the match was played with a beach ball.
Another farewell took place in the 65th minute when Abdoulaye Doucouré was withdrawn. The midfielder is one of 13 Everton players out of contract in the coming weeks and fresh terms are yet to be offered. Michael Keane was another afforded a chance to bow out in front of the Toffees faithful, coming on for the injured Jarrad Branthwaite.
The women’s team will play here next season, keeping Goodison alive. The men are moving into their next stage in a better position than many envisaged at the turn of the year, with Ndiaye the on-field poster boy of positivity. A new home awaits and it was a glorious end for the old one.