Leeds snatched a dramatic 1-0 victory over Brighton at Elland Road, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring in the 90th minute to secure a crucial win despite being dominated for large periods.
Leeds entered this final-day clash sitting 14th in the Premier League table with 44 points. Brighton, meanwhile, occupied 7th place with 53 points and arrived as clear favorites. The visitors had won their last match, while Leeds showed mixed form with two wins in their last five games.
Brighton controlled proceedings from the opening whistle, dictating play with their superior possession. Leeds sat deep and looked to exploit the space on the counter-attack. The first half saw few clear-cut chances, with both teams probing without finding the breakthrough.
Karl Darlow proved essential for Leeds between the posts. The goalkeeper made several important saves to keep the scores level. Brighton's Pascal Groß tested Darlow with two shots on target, but the Leeds keeper stood firm.
Leeds created limited opportunities but remained dangerous on the break. The hosts managed just one shot on target in the opening 45 minutes. At the interval, the match remained goalless despite Brighton's dominance in possession and chances created.
The second half followed a similar pattern. Brighton continued to press forward, accumulating eight shots on target across the full match. Leeds defended resolutely, absorbing pressure and waiting for their moment.
As the match entered stoppage time, few expected a breakthrough. Then, in the 90th minute plus six, Calvert-Lewin struck decisively. The Leeds forward finished clinically to send Elland Road into raptures. Calvert-Lewin received a yellow card seconds later for his celebration.
The statistics painted a clear picture of the contest. Brighton dominated with 66 percent possession and 539 total passes. The visitors created significantly more chances, recording 18 total shots compared to Leeds' seven. Brighton's expected goals total of 2.46 vastly exceeded their actual output.
Darlow's display proved decisive, making seven saves to deny Brighton repeatedly. Groß was Brighton's standout performer with two shots on target and four key passes. Calvert-Lewin's late intervention proved the difference despite his limited involvement beforehand.
This result lifts Leeds to 47 points with one match remaining. Brighton's failure to convert their chances keeps them on 53 points. The visitors remain in 7th place, while Leeds climb toward mid-table safety.
Leeds travel away in their final fixture knowing they have momentum. Brighton must regroup quickly and finish their season strongly. This dramatic finish proved that football rewards clinical finishing over possession dominance.
