.png)
13 hours ago
10
Brighton’s hopes of a return to European football next season took a potentially significant turn for the worse after Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s late goal ensured another home victory for a Leeds team that continues to thrive in the latter stages of the campaign.
Fabian Hürzeler’s side have been magnificent again this season and, going into the final weekend, their destiny is still in their own hands in terms of securing a second appearance in European competition. However, Brighton may look back on this afternoon in West Yorkshire as one that could prove to be a missed opportunity.
Despite already clinching their place in the Premier League next season after a fine campaign under Daniel Farke, there was no real sense of Leeds’ players being on the beach. Instead, they gave Brighton a difficult afternoon and ultimately snatched all three points late on.
Calvert-Lewin, who has led Leeds’ line with aplomb, capitalised on a Jan Paul van Hecke error to clinch another win at Elland Road. They are now eight unbeaten in the Premier League and will finish well clear of the relegation zone – a far cry from the worries that engulfed them around the turn of the year.
As for the visitors, they know victory against Manchester United at home next Sunday will still secure qualification for Europe. With eighth place resulting in a spot in the Conference League, Brighton remain on track for continental football next season – but they may now need a result against Michael Carrick’s side on the final day.
Their hopes of a first appearance in the Champions League are now all but gone barring Aston Villa winning the Europa League and finishing fifth, which in itself would grant sixth passage into Europe’s elite competition. Brighton, having had enough chances to win here, may now have to settle for less.
It could have been a game of huge consequence for Brighton but the mood could not have been more different among the home support. With survival already secured, Leeds fans were in the mood to celebrate, with pre-match beach balls and chants for former players Georginio Rutter and James Milner as they warmed up.
But Leeds’ players were not quite as carefree. They matched Brighton stride for stride throughout an even first half which had plenty of tension but little in the way of clearcut attacking opportunities. It was, however, obvious that the visitors had the greater purpose and cause to push for the opening goal.
The first real chance came as half-time approached. Pascal Gross’s shot was well parried by Karl Darlow before the rebound was turned back across goal by Ferdi Kadioglu. However, Van Hecke could only head over with the goal at his mercy to let Leeds off the hook.
Brighton’s braver play looked as though it would yield a reward but Leeds remained dangerous on the break. That was underlined when Anton Stach forced a magnificent instinctive save from Bart Verbruggen to ensure the two sides went in level at the interval.
The greater energy remained among the visitors after the restart. The best chance of the game came when Danny Welbeck’s shot appeared to have beaten Darlow – but Leeds’ captain, Ethan Ampadu, threw himself in front of the effort and cleared off the line with a superb last-ditch header.
Diego Gómez then had a glorious opportunity for Brighton. Kadioglu found a rare pocket of space behind the excellent James Justin and flashed the ball back across goal but despite being alone on the penalty spot, Gómez shot high and wide. The reaction from Hürzeler and the Brighton bench underlined what a crucial moment it could have been.
And just when it looked as though both sides would share the spoils, Van Hecke’s loose pass back to Verbruggen was picked off by Calvert-Lewin, who rounded the Brighton goalkeeper and calmly slotted home for his 14th league goal of the season.
