Everton bid Goodison farewell as Ndiaye double sparks cheers amid the tears

LIVERPOOL :Everton gave Goodison Park a fitting farewell after Iliman Ndiaye scored twice to hand 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.

"This team will be remembered in history as the one who played the last game," Moyes said.

Cheers and tears greeted Everton's team introductions to their "Z-Cars" anthem on an emotional day, with Ndiaye sparking bedlam after six minutes as he took the ball on the half-turn before driving towards goal and curling a shot into the net.

The 25-year-old Senegal international completed his double in first-half injury time when Dwight McNeil played a ball through two defenders and Ndiaye beat goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale with a dummy and then tapped into the empty net.

Ndiaye had said in a pre-game interview that he was motivated by the words of his daughter, saying he could become the last Everton men's player to score a goal at Goodison.

"It's very special (to be the last one)," Ndiaye said, with the game ball tucked under one arm. "It means a lot and I wanted to score a hat-trick. Since the day I came in they have been great, I wanted to give the fans a win today.

"The roar (after the first goal) was amazing. It's an amazing day. They deserve it," he added.

With Tim Cahill, Wayne Rooney, Duncan Ferguson and dozens of other Everton greats watching, the hosts ran roughshod over Southampton, who did little to spoil the party.

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