EPL review: Dilly Ding! Dilly Dong!! as Leicester party
– Manchester United enhance their top-four finish with a marginal victory away to Norwich
– Sunderland are out of the drop zone after coming from behind twice
– Aston Villa hold Newcastle to move them back into the relegation zone
– Swansea trash West Ham to leave their Champions League hopes in tatters
– Crystal Palace secure EPL status with a victory at home to Stoke City
– Leicester celebrate title success in style
Naij.com sports brings you the penultimate round of this exhilarating EPL season, with the unexpected and people’s Champion – Leicester City coming up trumps.
The table now turns to the relegation battle for survival between Norwich City, Sunderland FC and Newcastle United. Manchester United pile on the pressure on their noisy neighbour, Manchester City and Arsenal with a marginal victory away to Norwich City.
Norwich City 0-1 Manchester United A calamitous misjudgement by Norwich defender, Sebastian Bassong that was pounced upon by United captain Wayne Rooney to set up Mata who converted, pushing Norwich towards the EPL trapdoor.
United were not at their best, in fact they were mediocre but still went away with all the three points on offer, leaving them a point behind their noisy neighbours, Manchester City.
Juan Mata scored the only and decisive goal in the 72nd minute, meeting Rooney’s lay-off with a composed strike past Norwich goalkeeper, John Ruddy after a costly error by Bassong who failed to clear a long ball.
The defeat leaves the home team rooted in the second bottom of the EPL, slipping closer towards relegation.
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Aston Villa 0-0 Newcastle United
It is a dark day for the Magpies survival hopes after failing to break down the home side’s defence, and with Sunderland beating Chelsea. They could now be joining them in the Championships if Sunderland win against Everton.
The Magpies had the chances to ensure the survival battle went down to the last day, but were spurned, thanks to Mitrovic who missed three, Wijnaldum’s saved strike by The Villa goalkeeper and Papiss Cisse’s miss in the first half.
This goalless draw has left Newcastle praying Everton can halt Sunderland to keep their hopes alive, provided they can find a way past Tottenham Hotspur.
West Ham 1-4 Swansea
Swansea run riot against West Ham to leave their Champions League qualification hopes in tatters. West Ham came into the match with a ten-match unbeaten run, needing a win to pull them within two points of fourth-placed Manchester City and one behind United, who visits the yet to be departed Boleyn Ground on Tuesday.
The Hammers started brightly but were stunned by two first-half goal by Wayne Routledge and Andey Ayew against the run of play, along with a superb volley by Ki Sung-yueng in the 51st minute.
Diafra Sakho came off the bench to force the ball over the line after two reaction saves from the Swansea goalkeeper, albeit Kingsley was credited with goal for making the final touch.
Gomis completed the scoring in the closing stages with a fine effort.
Sunderland 3-2 Chelsea
Jermaine Defoe scored a crucial goal to help Sunderland out of the relegation goal after a stunning second-half fight back to leave them needing a win in their last two EPL matches to ensure survival.
Diego Costa curled a composed finish beyond Vito Mannone to open the scoring despite a positive start by the home side. Wahbi Khazri brought Sunderland level with a sensational volley, but Matic quickly restored the advantage just before the break.
Fabio Borini and Defoe scored in quick succession to send the home fans into delirium. Borini restored parity drilling the ball into the bottom left corner from Van Aanholt’s cutback.
Sunderland claimed a famous victory when Defoe produced a great first touch before blasting the ball beyond Courtois.
Chelsea’s miserable afternoon was compounded by captain John Terry being shown a second yellow card in stoppage time after colliding with Khazri – probably his last match for the Blues.
Crystal Palace 2-1 Stoke City
Dwight gayle scored a brace to seal the Eagles EPL status after going a goal down to Charlie Adam’s opener – allowing Palace to now focus fully on their trip to Wembley to face Manchester United in the FA Cup final.
Peter Crouch and Marko Arnautovic were involved in a fine move that culminated in Adam coolly slotting home to put the away side ahead before the break.
The home side came out firing in the second-half, and within two minutes Gayle slotted past the Stoke goalkeeper after a mazy run from Yannick Bolasie to equal the scoring.
Gayle put Alan Pardew’s side ahead in the 57th minute from a curling 25 yard free-kick, and brought Selhurst Park to its feet – FA Cup glory could yet await against Manchester United.
Leicester City 3-1 Everton Jamie Vardy ensures a coronation victory with a brace – one from penalty spot, and could have been a hat-trick but for a missed penalty.
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Andy King was also on target to truly confirm themselves as the worthy Champions of the EPL 2015-16 season. There’s a justifiably glorious party atmosphere at the King Power Stadium, with the fans singing and wallowing in their team’s triumph throughout the 90 minutes of this exciting match.
‘King’ Vardy as he’s called by Leicester’s adoring fans, rightfully opened the scoring when poking home Andy King’s cross five minutes into the match. The Champions played a swagger that made them almost unplayable.
Andy King dispatched the second goal from 12 yards when a sweet pass by Mahrez into the box fell to him. Vardy made it a brace from the spot when brought down by Mathew Pennington, resulting in a penalty – his 24th Premier League goal of the season. He later missed the chance to join Harry Kane on 25 goals when he skies another penalty award for a foul on Schlupp by Gibson.
Mirallas reduced the deficit in the 88th minute, but not enough to dampen the celebratory spirit at the King Power Stadium.
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