Palace end season with thrilling 5-3 win over Cherries
Soccer Football - Premier League - Crystal Palace v AFC Bournemouth - Selhurst Park, London, Britain - May 12, 2019 Crystal Palace's Patrick van Aanholt celebrates scoring their fourth goal with Wilfried Zaha Action Images via Reuters/Tony O'Brien
(Reuters) - CRYSTAL PALACE 5 BOURNEMOUTH 3
Crystal Palace ended their season in style on Sunday with a thrilling 5-3 triumph over Bournemouth at Selhurst Park that ensured they completed their best campaign in the Premier League era.
Two goals midway through the first half from Michy Batshuayi set Palace on their way to a victory that saw them finish 12th on 49 points from their 38 games, equalling their best tally in a Premier League season, set in 1992-93 over a 42-game campaign.
Soccer Football - Premier League - Crystal Palace v AFC Bournemouth - Selhurst Park, London, Britain - May 12, 2019 Bournemouth's Lys Mousset reacts as Crystal Palace players celebrate REUTERS/Hannah McKay
The Belgian striker gave Palace a 24th-minute lead after Wilfried Zaha's deflected cross fell into his path and doubled the advantage eight minutes later with a first-time finish from Aaron Wan-Bissaka's low cross.
Woeful Bournemouth defending then saw Zaha's shot saved by teenage keeper Mark Travers only for the ball to rebound off the shin of Cherries' defender Jack Simpson and trickle apologetically into the net for an own goal.
A thunderous 30-metre strike from Jefferson Lerma just before the break and Jordan Ibe's deflected 56th-minute effort gave Bournemouth hope before Patrick van Aanholt's neat finish to a fine team move saw Palace briefly repel the comeback.
Soccer Football - Premier League - Crystal Palace v AFC Bournemouth - Selhurst Park, London, Britain - May 12, 2019 Bournemouth's Ryan Fraser reacts after the match REUTERS/Hannah McKay
Still, Bournemouth would not lie down as a Joshua King goal ensured a frenetic finish but Andros Townsend sealed the 100th victory of Palace manager Roy Hodgson's Premier League career in the 80th minute, consigning Bournemouth to a 14th-place finish on 45 points.
(Writing by Ian Chadband; Editing by Toby Davis)
Soccer Football - Premier League - Crystal Palace v AFC Bournemouth - Selhurst Park, London, Britain - May 12, 2019 Crystal Palace's Bakary Sako in action with Bournemouth's Adam Smith Action Images via Reuters/Tony O'Brien Soccer Football - Premier League - Crystal Palace v AFC Bournemouth - Selhurst Park, London, Britain - May 12, 2019 Crystal Palace's Andros Townsend in action with Bournemouth's Lys Mousset Action Images via Reuters/Tony O'Brien Soccer Football - Premier League - Crystal Palace v AFC Bournemouth - Selhurst Park, London, Britain - May 12, 2019 Crystal Palace's Wilfried Zaha in action with Bournemouth's Nathaniel Clyne Action Images via Reuters/Tony O'Brien Soccer Football - Premier League - Crystal Palace v AFC Bournemouth - Selhurst Park, London, Britain - May 12, 2019 Bournemouth's Joshua King scores their third goal Action Images via Reuters/Tony O'Brien Soccer Football - Premier League - Crystal Palace v AFC Bournemouth - Selhurst Park, London, Britain - May 12, 2019 Crystal Palace's Vicente Guaita reacts as Bournemouth's Jefferson Lerma scores their first goal Action Images via Reuters/Tony O'Brien Soccer Football - Premier League - Crystal Palace v AFC Bournemouth - Selhurst Park, London, Britain - May 12, 2019 Crystal Palace players applaud Julian Speroni after the match Action Images via Reuters/Tony O'Brien Soccer Football - Premier League - Crystal Palace v AFC Bournemouth - Selhurst Park, London, Britain - May 12, 2019 Crystal Palace's Andros Townsend scores their fifth goal Action Images via Reuters/Tony O'Brien
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