Seven matches were played on Saturday in Round 17 of the 2018/19 season of the English Premier League. Many Nigerian players and players of Nigerian descent who one day might or might not play for the Super Eagles someday, were also in action.
In the early kick-off game, Manchester City hosted Everton at the Etihad Stadium. Gabriel Fernando de Jesus scored twice to put City ahead before the Toffees pulled one back through Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
After that goal, City made a substitution, bringing Raheem Sterling in, who managed to put City 3:1 up only three minutes after he came off the bench. There was nothing Everton could do to change the score which ended 3:1 to the Manchester side. Ademola Lookman, a prospective young player of Nigerian descent, came off the bench in the 57th minute for Everton.
Leicester City travelled south to Selhurst park in London to play Crystal Palace, who have recorded two straight defeats and were looking to bounce back at home. The Foxes were hoping for a favourable result but one brilliant strike from Palace captain Luka Milivojevic from all of 25 yards was enough to give the home side a very important three points.
Wilfred Ndidi was in the Leicester midfield for the full 90 minutes. Nigerian striker Kelechi Iheanacho came off the bench in the 73rd minute but couldn’t make an impact. The win takes Crystal palace three points clear of the relegation zone.
Kelechi Iheanacho (Vlad1988 / Shutterstock.com)
Huddersfield Town welcomed the visiting Newcastle United team but were unable to prevent going down to a fourth straight defeat. Salomón Rondón scored the only goal of the game for the Magpies who have triumphed after three matches without a win. Philip Billing was once again in the Huddersfield line-up for the full length of the game.
At Vicarage Road, Watford hosted Cardiff who were hopeful after beating Southampton in the last round. Watford went ahead in the 16th minute through Gerard Deulofeu and didn’t allow Cardiff many chances going into the break. After the restart, José Holebas scored in the 52nd minute to double the Hornets’ lead. Sixteen minutes later, Domingos Quina scored to make the score 3:0.
Isaac Success Ajayi came in off the bench for Watford in the 77th minute. Cardiff did manage to give the Hornets a scare with two quick goals, in the 80th and the 82nd minute, but the home side held on to record a win after a six-game drought.
The Molineux was the venue for the match-up between the Wolverhampton Wanderers and Bournemouth. Jordon Ibe was back for the Cherries but was subbed off in the 58th minute. Wolves scored in the 12th minute, courtesy of Raúl Jiménez and sealed the win in the 4th minute of stoppage time when Ivan Cavaleiro scored after he came in the last minute of regulation.