Wilfried Zaha turns in devastating display on what could be final appearance for Eagles
The Palace winger had a hand in all five goals in what seemed to be a final farewell to the fans
WILFRIED ZAHA marked what could be his last Crystal Palace game with a hand in all FIVE of his side’s goals.
The Selhurst Park darling recently revealed his desire to move on from his boyhood club to play at a higher level.
And if this eight-goal thriller was to be his final appearance, what a fitting way to bow out, it was.
He set up the opener as his cross deflected up and Michy Batshuayi turned home.
Palace’s second began with a Zaha no-look pass out wide to Aaron Wan-Bissaka who crossed low into the six-yard area for Batshuayi to steer into the net.
A wonderful run from Palace’s magic man that started on the halfway line ended with a weak shot which rookie keeper Mark Travers feebly flapped against the unfortunate Jack Simpson for an own goal.
Jefferson Lerma reduced the arrears with a 25-yard thunderbolt just before the break and it was 3-2 shortly after the interval as Jordon Ibe’s shot deflected off Joel Ward to deceive Vicente Guaita.
Patrick van Aanholt restored the two-goal lead after a neat one-two with Zaha for what was his third final-day goal in four seasons.
Bournemouth were still in it when Josh King bundled home at the far post when Chris Mepham flicked on Ryan Fraser’s corner.
The Cherries then wound up Zaha with chants of “he’s going to cry in a minute” when the ex-Manchester United star felt aggrieved after being fouled.
That only served to boost his motivation and Zaha proceeded to gallop down the left before picking out Andros Townsend for No5 with ten minutes to go.
All the big clubs will be mulling over whether they think Zaha could cut it for them at Champions League level.
Based on this performance, the answer is undoubtedly yes - as his price went up another few million.