Everton’s 1-0 victory over Bournemouth condemned Leicester and Leeds to join Southampton in the Championship for the upcoming season.
Everton extended their 69-year tenure in the English top division by defeating Bournemouth 1-0 on Sunday, relegating Leicester from the Premier League just seven years after their spectacular title victory.
Leeds will also return to the Championship after three seasons in the Premier League, as a 4-1 loss to Tottenham confirmed their relegation.
Abdoulaye Doucoure was the hero for Everton as the French midfielder scored from the fringe of the penalty area on the 57th minute to trigger jubilant celebrations at Goodison Park.
Despite defeating West Ham by a score of 2-1, Leicester were devastated as they were relegated.
Everton began the afternoon in charge of their own destiny, but they put Goodison Park’s 40,000 vociferous supporters through the ringer before securing survival.
The goal-scoring struggles of Sean Dyche’s squad were exacerbated by the absence of star striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Idrissa Gueye was denied by a spectacular save by Bournemouth custodian Mark Travers midway through the first half, despite the fact that Everton had opened up the visitors.
The Cherries defied the odds to secure their survival several weeks ago and refused to make life simple for the host team.
Yerry Mina had to make a determined last-ditch effort to deny Dominic Solanke’s goal-bound shot after Marcos Senesi’s shot narrowly missed the target.
Travers was a late replacement for Bournemouth’s captain Neto, who was absent for personal reasons, and the Irish goalkeeper prevented Demarai Gray from opening the scoring early in the second half with additional exploits.
Everton, who have not scored more than once at home since October, would likely have perished had they conceded first.
When Travers was ultimately defeated by Doucoure’s exquisite strike, the sense of relief was palpable.
Everton still had a half-hour to see out the game. During the 10 minutes of added time, Matias Vina was denied an equalizer by a superb save by Jordan Pickford.
Leicester did what was necessary, resulting in the Foxes’ second victory in 17 matches.
However, it was too little, too late for a talented team that performed poorly this season.
Harvey Barnes and Kelechi Iheanacho played a one-two, and then Barnes calmly slotted the ball into the far corner to score Leicester’s first goal. In contrast to Everton, Leicester possesses a variety of offensive weaponry, as evidenced by the quality of their opening goal.
Wout Faes scored Leicester’s second goal just after the hour mark, but by that time, the home crowd at the King Power Stadium was aware that Everton led and needed a favor from Bournemouth that never came.
Leeds required a succession of favorable results but never gave themselves a chance after Harry Kane scored in the opening minute at Elland Road.
After Jack Harrison had scored for Leeds, Pedro Porro doubled Spurs’ lead early in the second half, and Harry Kane reached 30 Premier League goals for the season.
Lucas Moura completed the scoring with what was likely the concluding strike of his five-year Spurs career.
Spurs’ victory was not enough to ensure a spot in the Europa Conference League for next season, as Aston Villa’s 2-1 victory over Brighton secured seventh place.
AFP
