Dominic Calvert-Lewin's 86th-minute strike gave Leeds United a 1-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion at Elland Road, dealing a significant blow to Brighton's hopes of qualifying for European football next season. The England international capitalised on a defensive error from Jan Paul van Hecke, whose underhit backpass was intercepted by Calvert-Lewin before he slotted past goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen.
The result leaves Brighton needing a win against Manchester United on the final day of the Premier League season to guarantee European qualification. However, their chances of reaching the Champions League are slim, relying on Bournemouth beating Manchester City and Aston Villa winning the Europa League while finishing fifth.
Brighton dominated large parts of the match, with Danny Welbeck having a goal cleared off the line by Ethan Ampadu and substitute Diego Gómez missing a golden opportunity when free in the penalty area. But Leeds, who had secured their Premier League survival earlier, defended resolutely and took their only shot on target.
Leeds manager Daniel Farke praised his team's resilience, saying: 'It sums up our season perfectly. It was such a difficult game, we had to defend, but we stayed in the game. A priceless three points for us.' Brighton boss Fabian Hürzeler lamented the costly error, stating: 'We made one error and got punished for it. We have to accept it and prepare for the last game, but it's still in our hands.'
