Bournemouth moved one step closer to securing European football for the first time in their history with a thumping 3-0 win over a woeful Crystal Palace at the Vitality Stadium. The result, all but settled inside a one-sided first half, lifted the Cherries to sixth in the Premier League on 52 points with three games remaining.
Goals from a Jefferson Lerma own goal, an Eli Junior Kroupi penalty and a late strike from Brazilian winger Rayan extended Bournemouth's club record unbeaten run to 15 league games, the longest streak across Europe's top five leagues. Palace, 15th in the table and beaten without ever truly threatening, will now turn their full attention to their Conference League semi-final.
A Familiar Face Hands the Hosts the Lead
Bournemouth snatched the lead in bizarre fashion in the 10th minute. Following Alex Scott's corner from the left, Evanilson's header appeared to be drifting wide, only for former Cherries midfielder Jefferson Lerma, who spent five seasons at the club, to inadvertently divert the ball back towards his own goal. Goalkeeper Dean Henderson, delaying as he tried to claw it away, could only do so once it had crossed the line.