Jamie Vardy nets 200th Leicester City goal in farewell game.

 

In his final Premier League appearance for Leicester City against Ipswich Town on Sunday, Jamie Vardy scored his 200th goal.

Vardy scored on his 500th and final appearance for the club, exactly 13 years after joining from Fleetwood Town.

Vardy was described as Leicester’s “greatest-ever player” when he announced he would become a free agent at the end of the season, bringing an incredible career to an end at the King Power Stadium.

The former England international was a key player in the club’s unprecedented Premier League title win in 2016 and their first FA Cup title in 2021.

Vardy insisted in an interview with Sky Sports earlier this month that he can still play at a high level.

“No [I have no doubts], but that’s just me,” the man replied. “”Football is an insane world. You never know what will happen. I will keep going until my legs tell me to stop. “My legs are fine.”

Everton bid farewell to Goodison Park with a 2-0 victory over already relegated Southampton on Sunday, as the “Grand Old Lady” hosted its final Premier League game in 133 years.

Everton’s victory in their penultimate match of the season, but their final game at Goodison Park before moving to a new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, left David Moyes’ side 13th with 45 points. Southampton are in last place, with 12 points from 37 games.

Everton’s team introductions to the “Z-Cars” anthem were met with tears and cheers on an emotional afternoon, and Ndiaye sparked chaos after six minutes when he took the ball on the half-turn before driving towards goal and curling a shot into the net.

The 25-year-old finished 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 before tapping into an empty net.

In a pregame interview, Ndiaye stated that his daughter’s words inspired him to become the last Everton men’s player to score at Goodison Park.

“It’s very special [to be the last one],” Ndiaye said, clutching the game ball under one arm. “It means a lot, and I wanted to complete a hat trick. They’ve been great since I arrived, and I wanted to give them a win today.

“The roar [after the first goal] was incredible.” It’s an incredible day. “They deserve it,” he said.

With Tim Cahill, Wayne Rooney, Duncan Ferguson, and dozens of other Everton greats in attendance, the hosts easily defeated Southampton, who did little to spoil the party.

The victory was Everton’s 17th over the Saints at Goodison Park, making them the club’s favourite home Premier League opponents.

The score could have been even more lopsided, as Beto had two goals called offside four minutes apart in the first half.

Everton custodian Jordan Pickford was forced to make a late save to deny substitute Cameron Archer, ensuring that the final goal was not scored by Southampton.

 

Sunday marked the end of an emotional journey that many Everton fans had been dreading, and the stadium’s finale — Game 2,791 — did not disappoint.

Thousands of fans gathered well before the team’s bus arrived at the stadium, and dense blue smoke filled the narrow terraced streets. Even fans who did not have tickets were able to witness the end of an era.

Supporters chanted, “Everton, you never shone so brightly!”

“The last game at Goodison will take some time to soak in,” Pickford told the crowd. “We would have preferred to score four or five. We will go down in history as the last team to triumph at Goodison. That is what the manager has asked of us today.

“The fans have been brilliant.”

Everton announced earlier this week that their Women’s Super League team will make a permanent move to Goodison Park beginning next season.

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