Stoke relegated after Patrick van Aanholt hits Palace winner
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Updated 05/05/2018 at 14:50 GMT
Patrick van Aanholt hit a late winner as Crystal Palace won 2-1 at Stoke to condemn the home side to relegation and ensured their own Premier League survival.
Patrick van Aanholt of Crystal Palcace celebrates scoring his side's second goal with team mates Andros Townsend and Christian Benteke during the Premier League match between Stoke City and Crystal Palace.
Image credit: Eurosport
Xherdan Shaqiri scored a deflected free-kick on 43 minutes for the home side, but the day quickly turned sour for Paul Lambert's side in the sun as James McArthur equalised on 68 minutes before Patrick Van Aanholt's late dagger consigned Stoke to the drop.
It ends Stoke's 10-year stay in the top flight as they return to the Championship with some of the home players and fans in tears at the end of a despairing defeat in their last home game of the season.
A frantic start saw Palace dominate possession, with Wilfried Zaha constantly threatening on the break. Ruben Loftus-Cheek came close to opening the scoring after nine minutes, with a long-range effort that narrowly curled over the bar.
Mame Biram Diouf missed an excellent opportunity to ease the nerves of the home contingent when his close-range header from a Shaqiri cross failed to hit the target.
The Swiss, who had failed to score or assist in his previous eight outings, was given his moment to shine shortly before the break.
After winning a free kick around 25-yards from goal, the former Bayern Munich man duly dispatched it with his left-foot—albeit via a slight deflection from the man who conceded the initial foul, Loftus-Cheek.
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Stoke City v Crystal Palace – Premier League – bet365 Stadium
Image credit: PA Sport
Palace continued to threaten on the break in the second half—which proved to be Stoke’s undoing.
With 22 minutes remaining, the visitors broke with numbers as McArthur made a clever run outside of Loftus-Cheek, before dispatching a first-touch finish.
It was a similar counter-attacking story when Zaha sped forward and picked out an oncoming Van Aanholt. Ryan Shawcross attempted to intercept, but only served to tee up the Dutchman to deliver the fatal blow under Jack Butland.
The result guaranteed Crystal Palace’s safety, while formally ending Stoke’s 10-year stay in the Premier League.
West Brom will be relegated if they fail to beat Tottenham later on Saturday.
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Xherdan Shaqiri of Stoke City (center) celebrates with Paul Lambert, Manager of Stoke City (L) and Kurt Zouma of Stoke City (R) after scoring his sides first goal during the Premier League match between Stoke City and Crystal Palace.
Image credit: Eurosport
TALKING POINT: Did Stoke deserve to go down?
There is little question that the Premier League contains some poor sides this season, with nine failing to reach 40 points before this match day.
Stoke may have shown some spirit in recent performances, but ultimately the numbers don’t lie. The Potters haven’t won since January—Paul Lambert’s first game in charge—while a starting attacking duo of Crouch and Diouf might indicate the level at which this club ought to play.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Ruben Loftus-Cheek
In addition to getting a vital assist, the former Chelsea man put himself in some excellent attacking positions in this game. Palace will hope to retain his services next year.
PLAYER RATINGS
Stoke: Butland 6, Johnson 7, Shawcross 7, Zouma 7, Pieters 6, Shaqiri 7, Allen 6, Badou 6, Bauer 6, Crouch 7, Diouf 5..subs: Ramadan 6, Campbell 6
Crystal Palace: Hennessey 6, Ward 6, Tomkins 7, Sakho 6, Van Aanholt 6, Loftus-Cheek 7, Milivojevic 7, Cabaye 6, McArthur 6, Townsend 6, Zaha 7..subs: Kelly 6, Schlupp 6, Benteke 4
KEY MOMENTS
- 23 - CHANCE! Shaqiri crosses from the right and finds Diouf's head, but the effort sails wide of the post! That's Stoke's first real chance.
- 42 - GOAL! Stoke win a free kick in Shaqiri territory around 25 yards from goal. The Swiss converts it with a beautiful curling left-footed effort!
- 68 - GOAL! Palace break with numbers as Zaha finds Loftus-Cheek on the left. McArthur makes a run around the back of Loftus-Cheek, receives the ball and tucks it home first-time!
- 86 - GOAL! Zaha plays a square ball to Benteke near the edge of the area, which Shawcross intercepts and puts into the path of Van Aanholt. The Dutchman slots underneath Butland in what will likely be the fatal blow to Stoke.
KEY STATS
- Stoke have been relegated from the Premier League for the first time.
- Stoke’s winless streak is the longest in all of the top four divisions.
- Crystal Palace are unbeaten in five league games, scoring 12 goals in the process.
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