Ndiaye double ends Goodison era on a high for Everton
The party at Goodison Park had started long before the final whistle of Everyon's 2-0 victory over Southampton. Pic: Martin Rickett/PA Wire.
Premier League: Everton 2 Southampton 0
Iliman Ndiaye scored the final two goals in the history of Goodison Park to see off the old stadium in style.
Although Goodison will remain in use, by Everton’s women’s team, its 133-year association with the men’s side ended with a comfortable victory for David Moyes against already-relegated opponents.
On an emotion-charged day at Goodison, Ndiaye had the result wrapped up in the first half, although given the half-hearted effort from the visitors, one of them would have been plenty.
Aaron Ramsdale had already been forced to save early from Beto before Ndiaye opened the scoring on six minutes.
The Senegalese forward picked up the ball 20 yards from goal and created space before curling a superb finish into the bottom corner from just inside the area.
A Goodison crowd that had started arriving at 7am and was clearly in celebratory mood, further erupted, on a day that will live long in Evertonian memory.
It already appeared a simple matter of how many goals the hosts would win by, and the lively Beto twice had the ball in the net around the half-hour mark only to see both ruled out for fractional offside calls.
But, in the first minute of stoppage time, Ndiaye finally beat the VAR replay for the first time on the day and Everton were 2-0 in front.
Dwight McNeil’s shot attempt was blocked but the ball broke for Ndiaye who skilfully rounded Ramsdale before rolling the ball into the open goal.
Celebrations around the 2,789th - and last - game at Goodison had been weeks in the planning and Moyes even entered the spirit by handing veteran full-back Seamus Coleman his first start since St Stephen's Day.
Coleman only lasted 17 minutes, before being forced off through injury and replaced by Ashley Young, but it was a rare example of something not going according to plan for Everton.
After the restart, Ramsdale parried a James Garner shot, with Everton retaining possession in a move that ended with Beto heading just over from Ashley Young’s cross.
But thoughts were very much on the planned post-game festivities and the final 20 minutes passed with barely an incident in either goalmouth.
There was a late chance for Jordan Pickford to enjoy his final Goodison action, however, as he saved well, with his feet, from Southampton substitute Cameron Archer.
EVERTON (4-2-3-1): Pickford 7; Coleman (Young 17, 5), O'Brien 7, Branthwaite 7 (Keane 73, 5), Mykolenko 7; Gueye 7, Garner 6; McNeil 5 (Harrison 65, 5), Doucoure 6 (Alcaraz 65, 5), Ndiaye 8 (Calvert-Lewin 75, 5); Beto 7. Substitutes (not used: Virginia, Patterson, Chermiti, Iroegbunam.
SOUTHAMPTON (3-4-2-1): Ramsdale 6; Bree 5, Harwood-Bellis 6 (Kayi Sanda 82), Wood 5 (Archer 60, 5); Stephens 6, Downes 5, Aribo 5 (Smallbone 60, 5), Welington 6; Dibling 5 (Robinson 68, 5), Fernandes 5; Sulemana 6 (Stewart 60, 5). Substitutes (not used): McCarthy, Manning, Sugawara, Ugochukwu.
Referee: M Oliver 7