- Van Aanholt, Kone score before half
- Kone adds another for unlikely brace
- Win relegates Newcastle, Norwich
- Barry breaks PL record
Lamine Kone’s brace and a goal from fellow defender Patrick van Aanholt allowed Sunderland to clinch Premier League safety with a 3-0 win over a feeble Everton side at the Stadium of Light on Wednesday.
The win means Newcastle United and Norwich City is relegated to the Championship, and that Sunderland will finish in 17th place.
The loss ensures Everton will finish bottom half despite lofty preseason ambitions. Gareth Barry made his 572th PL start, passing David James for the most starts in Premier League history
[ MORE: Watch full PL match replays ]
Younes Kaboul dribbled at Pennington before launching a rocket that sailed across Joel Robles but also past the goal. It remained 0-0 in the 25th minute.
The Black Cats did, of course, get on the board first thanks to a very decent free kick from Van Aanholt and dreadful goalkeeping from Joel Robles.
Moments later, Everton did a horrible job clearing a corner kick and Kone buried his close-range chance like a striker. 2-0, and Sunderland looked safe.
[ MORE: Latest Premier League standings ]4 - Sunderland have scored four times directly from a free-kick this season in the Premier League, no club has scored more. Pinpoint.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 11, 2016
[ MORE: Full lineups, stats, box score ]
John Stones flew to a possible headed goal just after halftime, but Vito Mannone claimed the ball before it could cross the line.
Jermain Defoe could’ve fittingly put the exclamation on the win with his flicked opportunity toward goal as Robles continued to struggle, but Stones cleared it just off the line.
It was 3-0 seconds later, as Kone hammered in a loose ball on the door step. Goodnight, Newcastle. Adios, Norwich.