It was a weekend for Africans in the Premier League playing for Crystal Palace as they got back to winning ways with an emphatic 2-0 victory over struggling Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.
The South London club handed the Cherries their sixth defeat in seven Premier League games with a brilliant display from the trio of Ghana’s Jordan Ayew and Nigerian duo of Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise.
Palace dominated proceedings early on in the game, forcing two great saves from Bournemouth’s goalkeeper Mark Travers.
Ghana striker Jordan Ayew scored his first Premier League goal of the season in the 19th minute, connecting to a high-flying corner kick from Michael Olise of Nigerian and Algerian descent.
17 minutes later, the 21-year-old left-footed winger was the provider again from a corner kick for another youngster of African descent – Eze.
Eze and Olise almost combined again in the second half to increase the lead for Palace, but Travers in goal for the Cherries was up to the task with a brilliant save in the top right corner.
Ivory Coast International Wilfried Zaha came closest to making it three after he almost turned in Congolese-descent Jean-Philippe Mateta’s cutback in the 78th minute.
Olise was awarded the man of the match with his two assists, increasing his tally for the season to four assists, while Eze got his third goal of the season.
Next up for Crystal Palace is a home match against Tottenham Hotspur on January 4.
