Full TimeSecond Half ends, Crystal Palace 2, Bournemouth 0.Post updateAttempt missed. Jefferson Lerma (Bournemouth) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Philip Billing.Post updateAttempt blocked. Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Wilfried Zaha.Post updateAttempt saved. Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Wilfried Zaha.Post updateGoal! Crystal Palace 2, Bournemouth 0. Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) right footed shot from outside the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Michael Olise with a through ball.Post updateAttempt saved. Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Eberechi Eze.Post updateGoal! Crystal Palace 1, Bournemouth 0. Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Andros Townsend with a through ball.
Two fine strikes by Eberechi Eze earned Crystal Palace a Premier League victory over Bournemouth at Selhurst Park. Eze slammed home from six yards shortly before half time, before curling into the top corner following Michael Olise’s fine pass as the Palace number 10 made it 10 league goals this season. This was clear in the way both teams started the match, serenaded with chants of “we are staying up” from the travelling fans in first 40 minutes, which could charitably be described as comfortable. A Maradona turn by Palace defender Joel Ward on the 25-minute mark was indicative of a game between two sides now relishing playing without the lingering threat of the bottom three on their minds. Joachim Andersen however appeared unaware Palace have little left to fight for, as he evaded a first-half red card following a lengthy video assistant referee (VAR) check after catching Jefferson Lerma in the face.
Palace roused themselves earlier, the quick and skilful wing play of Olise and Wilfried Zaha providing Bournemouth with plenty of problems, before Eze opened the scoring four minutes before the break. Zaha spun inside, found Andre Ayew who teed up Eze six yards out for the midfielder to slam past Neto. This was probably the only Premier League game with nothing riding on it, however that did not stop Eze showing again why, when fully fit, he is one of the division’s brightest midfielders – and his second goal was even better. Olise earned his 10th Premier League assist of the season – a new record for a Palace player – as he played a lovely ball to Eze on the left who controlled, cut inside and thumped into the top-right corner.
Victory ensured Palace completed the league double over Bournemouth, having won 2-0 at Vitality Stadium on 31 December. That proved to be their final win under Patrick Vieira, who was dismissed after they failed to win any of their subsequent 12 top-flight matches. It was a run which threatened the Eagles’ Premier League status, however their descent was halted by the appointment of Roy Hodgson and five wins from the last eight games. The question is now whether the 75-year-old, contracted to the end of the season, will extend his second spell at Selhurst Park.
A few weeks ago, this game could have been earmarked as a relegation six-pointer. Instead, it was a low-stakes end-of-season meeting between two sides with their top-flight status secure. Eze shone again for Palace without threat of drop, as two fine strikes earned them a Premier League victory over Bournemouth at Selhurst Park. Eze slammed home from six yards shortly before half time, before curling into the top corner following Michael Olise’s fine pass as the Palace number 10 made it 10 league goals this season. Joachim Andersen however appeared unaware Palace have little left to fight for, as he evaded a first-half red card following a lengthy video assistant referee (VAR) check after catching Jefferson Lerma in the face.
The quick and skilful wing play of Olise and Wilfried Zaha provided Bournemouth with plenty of problems, before Eze opened the scoring four minutes before the break. Zaha spun inside, found Andre Ayew who teed up Eze six yards out for the midfielder to slam past Neto. Olise earned his 10th Premier League assist of the season – a new record for a Palace player – as he played a lovely ball to Eze on the left who controlled, cut inside and thumped into the top-right corner.
Palace remain 12th in the table, now four points above Bournemouth in 14th. Victory ensured Palace completed the league double over Bournemouth, having won 2-0 at Vitality Stadium on 31 December. That proved to be their final win under Patrick Vieira, who was dismissed after they failed to win any of their subsequent 12 top-flight matches. It was a run which threatened the Eagles’ Premier League status, however their descent was halted by the appointment of Roy Hodgson and five wins from the last eight games. The question is now whether the 75-year-old, contracted to the end of the season, will extend his second spell at Selhurst Park.