Diomande’s relegation heartbreak, Salah’s title celebrations, Coulibaly’s late gasp survival, Semenyo’s match-winning heroics, and all the action from African players in the final matchday across Europe’s top five leagues. We have it all for you in this weekly football recap episode.
COULIBALY LIFTS LECCE TO SAFETY
US Lecce visited SS Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico, knowing fully well they needed all three points to avoid relegation. The first half was uneventful till Lassana Coulibaly found inspiration and struck decisively to open the scoring for Lecce in the 43rd minute of the game. The Malian midfielder started and finished the move. Wholly unsatisfied with regaining possession for the visitors in the final third, he sprinted into the box for the return ball from Nikola Krstović, held off Matteo Guendouzi, and fired the ball into the net in between the goalkeeper’s legs. A gigantic goal in Lecce’s most important match this season.
The goal was Coulibaly’s maiden goal for Lecce in his final league appearance of the season. A vital cog in Lecce’s engine, the Malian international has played all 38 league games for the Yellow and Reds.
A red card to Santiago Pierotti in the additional minutes of the first half dulled the celebratory mood of the away fans. The second half ended on a goalless note as 10-man Lecce held on resolutely to nullify Lazio in the final third, their goalie pulling out a series of incredible saves. In doing so, they knocked the Biancocelesti out of European qualification completely. For the first time in the club’s history, Lecce will play four consecutive seasons in Serie A. Take a bow, Coulibaly!
SALAH’S HEROICS PREVENT SARR FROM SPOILING LIVERPOOL’S TITLE PARTY
Premier League champions Liverpool FC played host to FA Cup champions Crystal Palace at Anfield, fully intent on setting the tone for their title celebrations with a win. Palace took the lead against the run of play in the 9th minute as Ismaila Sarr kept his composure to bury the ball into the net. Receiving an incisive pass from Tyrick Mitchell, he took a couple of touches to set the ball and applied a low finish beyond Alisson. Palace took the lead into the break.
Both sides made a couple of substitutions in the second half, and a red card to Ryan Gravenberch in the 68th minute made it seem Palace were heading away with the three points. As he has done on countless occasions for the Reds this season, Salah rose to the occasion and struck clinically to rescue the Reds. Cody Gakpo headed a pass to Liverpool’s Egyptian King in the box, and the latter smashed a scissor-kick-style volley into the roof of the net for his 29th goal of the league season.
With 29 goals and 18 assists, Liverpool’s Mo Salah has equalled the record for most goal involvements in a Premier League season (47), leveling Andy Cole (1993/1994) and Alan Shearer (1994/1995).
DIOMANDE’S ICONIC PERFORMANCE NOT ENOUGH AS LEGANES ARE RELEGATED
With their future in Spain’s top-flight hanging by a thin thread, CD Leganes played host to relegated side Real Valladolid at the Estadio Municipal de Butarque, aiming to secure an important win to keep their faint survival hopes alive.
The host drew first blood through Javi Hernández in the 24th minute. Yan Diomande teased a pass to Hernandez on the edge of the box, and the Spaniard unleashed a stunning effort into the net. A goal out of nothing! Seydouba Cissé had a goal ruled out for offside in the 34th minute. Diomande doubled their lead in the 36th minute with his second goal of the campaign. Exchanging quick passes with Cissé, Diomande picked the ball up, danced his way skillfully through multiple challenges, and fired the ball into the net. A mesmerizing solo effort from the teenager!
The 18-year-old Ivorian winger has had a debut season to remember in La Liga. Cissé’s assist for Diomande was his only assist in this La Liga campaign.
Juan Cruz added a third goal for Leganes in the 40th minute to effectively snuff out any hopes of a Valladolid comeback, turning in the rebound from Diomande’s saved cross. Having impressed greatly, Diomande was substituted for Duk in the 63rd minute. Despite Valladolid making a trio of substitutions at the break, the scores remained unchanged at the end of the game. Leganes’ win was not enough to ensure their survival in La Liga.
GUEYE’S DOUBLE LEADS VILLARREAL TO SIXTH CONSECUTIVE LEAGUE VICTORY
Villarreal CF played host to Sevilla FC at the El Madrigal, aiming to take maximum points against the struggling Andalusian side. The Yellow Submarines got off to the perfect start as Yeremy Pino grabbed the opening goal in the 4th minute with a curling effort. Pape Gueye doubled the lead soon after, finding the back of the net four minutes after Pino’s opener. Tajon Buchanan teased a pass to Gueye on the edge of the box. Taking a touch to set it up, he thumped the ball into the net. An unstoppable belter!
Djibril Sow pulled a goal back for Sevilla in the 29th minute, but Alex Baena restored Villarreal’s two-goal lead in the 39th minute as the hosts took the lead into the break. Gueye netted his second eight minutes into the second half, rifling the ball into the net at the near post from Thierno Barry’s pass to complete his brace against his former employers. He was substituted for Dani Parejo in the 75th minute.
Ramon Martinez added a second goal for Sevilla late on. However, it was unable to reverse their fortunes. An unforgettable moment for Villarreal as they completed a league double over Sevilla for the first time in their history, Gueye’s brace leading them to a sixth consecutive league victory.
DIALLO STARS AS UNITED CLAIMS FINAL-DAY VICTORY
Fresh off their Europa League Final loss to Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United played host to Aston Villa at Old Trafford as they aimed to finish the season with a win in front of their fans. United were dominant throughout the first half and were unlucky not to have grabbed the lead. Villa had goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez to thank before he was sent off for a rash challenge in the closing minutes of the first half. United’s persistence was eventually rewarded in the 76th minute as Amad Diallo prodded the ball into the net. The young winger connected perfectly with Bruno Fernandes’ beautiful ball over the top, nodding it home from close range.
Diallo has recorded 8 goals and 6 assists in the Premier League this season, the best season of his top-flight career. Diallo was at the heart of United’s second as they were awarded a penalty after he was brought down inside the box. Christian Eriksen stepped up and buried it emphatically to seal a two-nil win for the Red Devils. A 15th-placed finish for United this season.
SUPER SEMENYO LEADS BOURNEMOUTH TO RECORD-BREAKING FINALE
AFC Bournemouth played host to Leicester City at the Vitality Stadium, aiming to finish the season on a strong note. Bournemouth dominated proceedings in the first half but lacked a finishing touch, and Leicester had a goal ruled out for offside. There was nothing to separate the two sides at the break. Bournemouth mounted the pressure in the second half, and their dominance paid off as Antoine Semenyo opened the scoring in the 74th minute. Illia Zabarnyi contested Justin Kluivert’s cross in the air, and the ball fell kindly to Semenyo. The winger showed no hesitation and powered the ball the first time into the net. A clean strike!
It didn’t take too long for Semenyo to grab his second goal of the match, netting in the 88th minute. Dean Hujsen dispossessed the opposition player on the edge of the box, and the ball fell kindly to Semenyo. He took a touch to set it up, and he thumped a stinging effort into the back of the net. A record-breaking thunderbolt!
His goal was Bournemouth’s 57th goal in the current EPL season, a record for the highest number of PL goals scored by The Cherries in a season. Semenyo has been brilliant for The Cherries this season, recording 11 goals and 5 assists across 37 PL appearances. The best campaign of the 25-year-old’s top-flight career.
