Manchester City 2-0 Southampton: Frank Lampard bids farewell to Premier League in style with decisive strike for home side

Manchester City have finished the Premier League season in second place
Frank Lampard fired City into the lead in the 31st minute
Sergio Aguero doubled City’s advantage two minutes before the end
Lampard was making his final ever Premier League appearance prior to his summer move to New York City

Published:
15:53 GMT, 24 May 2015

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Updated:
19:27 GMT, 24 May 2015

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He just had to go out with a goal, didn’t he? There have been so many to savour in Frank Lampard’s illustrious Premier League career, and the veteran midfielder did not disappoint on his farewell to English football.

Lampard will head to the United States next month to finally join up with Manchester City’s MLS franchise. There is little doubt that New York City FC are acquiring a player who can still shine at the highest level.

The 36-year-old was made captain for the day to mark the occasion and the Etihad rose to salute him in the 31st minute when he scored a trademark goal – his 177st in the Premier League for West Ham, Chelsea and City.

Manchester City midfielder Frank Lampard races away to celebrate following his 31st minute strike at the Etihad

Lampard salutes the City faithful in his final ever Premier League appearance on Sunday

The former Chelsea stalwart scored his 177th Premier League goal to give City the lead heading into the half-time break

City defender Aleksandar Kolarov (right) salutes Lampard following his opening strike just after the half hour mark

Lampard is overjoyed as he finds the back of the net in his 609th and final appearance in England’s top flight

City striker Sergio Aguero makes the result safe as he pounces from close-range to double his side’s advantage in the 88th minute

MATCH FACTS, TABLE AND MATCH ZONE

MAN CITY (4-2-3-1): Hart 6.5; Zabaleta 6, Mangala 6.5, Demichelis 7, Kolarov 6; Lampard 7.5 (Navas 77, 6), Fernandinho 6.5; Milner 7 (Kompany 79, 6), Toure 7 (Bony 66, 6), Silva 6.5; Aguero 5.5.

Subs: Caballero, Sagna, Dzeko, Jovetic.

Scorers: Lampard 31, Aguero 88

Booked: Demichelis

SOUTHAMPTON (4-2-3-1): K Davis 8; Clyne 6.5, Alderweireld 6, Fonte 6.5, Bertrand 6; Wanyama 6, S Davis 5.5 (Elia 76); Long 7, Duricic 5 (Ward-Prowse 59), Mane 6.5; Pelle 5.5.

Subs: Grazzaniga, Yoshida, Gardos, Ward-Prowse, Elia, Reed, Targett.

Booked: Long

Referee: Chris Foy 7

Star man: Kelvin Davis

Frank Lampard scored the decisive goal at the Etihad. Click here for our brilliant Match Zone service

David Silva swept the ball out to James Milner on the right and his low cross picked out Lampard in the box.

As so often in his career, the midfielder’s timing was perfect. He shaped his body to meet the ball and jabbed it goalwards with one touch of his left foot. Kelvin Davis got a hand to the ball but couldn’t alter the script.

It stayed that way until Lampard departed 13 minutes from time, reciprocating the applause from all four sides of the stadium as he went.

Sergio Aguero nodded City’s second over the line towards the end, having seen Davis deny him on several occasions, but the Argentine’s 26 league goals were more than enough to secure the Golden Boot which was awarded to him during the after-match festivities.

It was overshadowed by the fuss City made over Lampard though.

He returned to the field where he was joined by his two daughters, Isla and Luna, and father Frank Snr who helped present him with a signed shirt bearing the number 609 in honour of the Premier League appearances he has made during a 19-year career in the top-flight.

‘It was emotional,’ said Lampard. ‘My last ever game in the Premier League and I didn’t realise my daughters would be on the pitch.

‘People can talk about whether this was the right decision for me or not. This was completely the right decision – I’ve lost nothing from what I did at Chelsea.

‘I feel like I can play for a couple more years and maybe I could have done that in the Premier League, but my choice is to play in America.’

Manager Manuel Pellegrini described it as the ‘perfect goodbye’ and Lampard will not be the only City player leaving this summer.

Lampard applauds the crowd as he leaves the field after being substituted for Jesus Navas in the 76th minute

Southampton goalkeeper Kelvin Davis pulls off a stunning point-blank save to deny Aguero early on in the contest

Argentine frontman Aguero is foiled by Davis as City are denied an early lead due to the Saints keeper’s heroics

City goalkeeper Joe Hart gets a hug from defender Pablo Zabaleta after the final whistle

Yaya Toure applauds the home crowd following his side’s 2-0 victory against Ronald Koeman’s side

Yaya Toure and Milner both took possession of the captain’s armband before they in turn went off.

Toure’s future is still uncertain and the way Milner waved goodbye to supporters appeared to confirm that this was his last appearance, with a move to Liverpool looking likely.

Southampton rarely threatened to spoil the send-off after Shane Long and Graziano Pelle wasted chances in the first half.

However, finishing seventh means that an Arsenal victory over Aston Villa in the FA Cup final will guarantee Ronald Koeman’s team a place in the Europa League qualifying round in July.

By then, Lampard will already be in New York beginning a new chapter in his career.