Everton bid emotional farewell to Goodison Park with win over Southampton

Everton bid emotional farewell to Goodison Park with win over Southampton

In a match steeped in nostalgia and emotion, Everton delivered a performance worthy of the occasion as Iliman Ndiaye struck twice to seal a 2-0 win over relegated Southampton - marking the end of an era at Goodison Park.

On a sun-drenched Sunday, the "Grand Old Lady" hosted her final Premier League match after 133 years of football history. With legends like Tim Cahill, Wayne Rooney, and Duncan Ferguson in attendance, and the echoes of past glories thick in the air, Everton ensured their historic home went out on a high.

The script couldn't have been more poetic. Just six minutes in, Ndiaye lit up the ground with a moment of brilliance - spinning on the ball, surging forward, and bending a shot into the bottom corner. The goal unleashed a wave of noise and nostalgia from the packed terraces.

As the first half drew to a close, the Senegalese forward doubled his tally with a composed finish after Dwight McNeil sliced through Southampton's back line with a perfectly weighted pass. A cheeky dummy sent Aaron Ramsdale sprawling before Ndiaye casually rolled the ball into the net.

The scoreline could have been more emphatic - Beto had two efforts ruled out for offside - but the day was never about numbers. It was about memory, sentiment, and saying goodbye.

As Everton prepare to move to their new home at Bramley-Moore Dock, Goodison Park was given a send-off befitting its place in English football lore - a final chapter filled with pride, passion, and a promise to carry the spirit of the old ground into the future.