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In addition to the two clubs from Manchester, a few more English first division teams played on the last day of the year. Southampton, with substitute Roméo Lavia, lost on the field to Fulham. Crystal Palace won against Bournemouth and revelation Newcastle did not get further than a brilliant score against Leeds.
Jens Jacobs
Substitute Lavia sees Southampton go down in extremis
The difference between Fulham and Southampton could not have been greater at the start of the game. While Southampton was easily put aside by Brighton last week and has to fight to avert relegation, PhD candidate Fulham is doing very well this season. It is in the middle of the standings and last week Crystal Palace won convincingly.
At Southampton, Roméo Lavia was still missing. The young Belgian is struggling with physical problems after an excellent start. Problems that also kept him aside against Fulham.
Lavia started on the bench and saw Fulham take the lead just after the half hour mark. Andreas Pereira, who played for our country in his youth, but in the meantime made the choice for Brazil, saw his shot end up in goal via James Ward-Prowse’s leg. Fulham went into the dressing rooms with a lead.
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Ward-Prowse was determined to correct his mistake after the break. On a free kick, his specialty, he balanced the score again. A draw seemed likely. Until Palhinha climbed higher than everything and everyone on a corner kick and the 2-1 nodded against the ropes in extremis. In the absolute final seconds, Mitrovic failed to score the 3-1 against the ropes from the spot.
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Revelation Newcastle does not score against Leeds
Newcastle was unable to take advantage of Manchester City’s loss of points against Leeds. Newcastle, the revelation of the current season, was third in the standings after sixteen games and was even able to share second place due to City’s draw.
In the end it didn’t come to that. Newcastle showed themselves to be the better team, but could only threaten on stagnant phases. However, scoring failed for both teams. A division of points was therefore the logical consequence.
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Two corner kicks give Crystal Palace three points
Still in the Premier League, Bournemouth, the previous club of brand new Club Brugge coach Scott Parker, received a visit from Crystal Palace. The home team had most of the ball possession, but the most danger came from the visitors. Still, Palace needed two stagnant phases to celebrate.
A header goal from Jordan Ayew and a rehearsed number from Eze gave the visitors three satisfying points. Thanks to the victory, Crystal Palace closes the year in a good eleventh place. Bournemouth has to settle for fifteenth place.
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