Leeds 1 Brighton 0 - Calvert-Lewin on target again, an opportunity missed for Brighton?

AFC BournemouthArsenalAston VillaBrentfordBrighton & Hove AlbionBurnleyChelseaCrystal PalaceEvertonFulhamLeeds UnitedLiverpoolManchester CityManchester UnitedNewcastle UnitedNottingham ForestSunderlandTottenham HotspurWest Ham UnitedWolverhampton WanderersScores & ScheduleStandingsFantasyThe Athletic FC NewsletterPodcastsXabi Alonso’s TacticsGuardiola’s FutureSlot/Ten Hag DebateAnalysisLeeds 1 Brighton 0 – Calvert-Lewin on target again, an opportunity missed for Brighton?Dominic Calvert-Lewin celebrates scoring his 14th Premier League goal Nathan Stirk/Getty Images Share articleDominic Calvert-Lewin pounced in the 96th minute to score a remarkable late winner, extending Leeds United’s unbeaten Premier League run to eight matches and moving them to 13th — albeit potentially temporarily with Newcastle United playing in the late Sunday match. With their Premier League status already secured, it seemed as if Leeds were to play out an unremarkable goalless draw in the Yorkshire sunshine. If ever a match had an end-of-season feel, this was it. There was the fine weather, the appearance of beach balls and very little of note created by either team. That was until Calvert-Lewin capitalised on a defensive error to score his 14th league goal of the season. With qualification for next season’s Champions League not out of the question for Brighton & Hove Albion, more was expected from the visitors. Of the many permutations, a sixth-placed finish could be enough to play in Europe’s premier competition. Even a draw would have guaranteed Brighton a seventh-placed finish and European football, but the loss leaves them two points behind sixth-placed Bournemouth, with Andoni Iraola’s men having a game in hand. Should six English clubs play in the Champions League next season, this match will be viewed as an opportunity missed for Brighton. For Leeds, the unbeaten run continues and further plans can be made for another season in the top flight. Beren Cross analyses the action. This was a game seemingly going nowhere. And then Sam Byram opened the door with what is surely his final contribution at Elland Road in the 95th minute. The pass down the line from the wing-back looked regulation. Jan Paul van Hecke calmly collected it, turned inside and blindly passed in the vague direction of his goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen. The pass was underhit and it allowed Calvert-Lewin the opportunity to steal in. He beat the onrushing goalkeeper to it, rounded him and then slotted home from the side of the area. It was the perfect way for him to conclude the season at Elland Road. Daniel Farke’s name had just been sung, Byram’s final home introduction had been applauded and then the No 9 who has scored so many important goals in 2025-26 did it again. As we have learnt this season, you can never write this team off. It’s now eight unbeaten, the longest streak of the season. Heading into this game, Leeds United were unbeaten in seven and Brighton had won seven of their previous 10 games. These were two teams in supreme form. The hosts were, admittedly, playing for nothing more than pride, prize money and bonuses, but the visitors could smell European football. A free-flowing entertaining game never really broke out, however. The first half dragged. The clearest barometer of a match’s entertainment levels is often what is being sung in the terraces. In the first half, Junior Firpo, Gaetano Berardi and Samuel Saiz, players who have all long since left West Yorkshire, had their best-known songs sung by the fans. There was also the time, space and relaxed feeling to give Georginio Rutter and James Milner warm welcomes back to the club. This was the first time Leeds have played at home in May with nothing on the line in five years and it showed. That’s not to say the players were going through the motions. This is a Brighton team in excellent form and they were just about kept at arm’s length by the hosts. Albion had their moments, but didn’t truly test Karl Darlow. There will be far more on the line in a far more tense atmosphere next weekend at relegation-threatened West Ham United. While Leeds United were not fighting for their Premier League survival on Sunday, it is important the players remain healthy with the World Cup looming. The sight of Anton Stach and Brenden Aaronson going off in the second half, having received medical treatment, would have caused some anxiety for their national teams ahead of the World Cup. Aaronson received attention from the medical staff before walking off the pitch, although USMNT boss Mauricio Pochettino may at least take some heart from that. The same may not be said about Germany and Julian Nagelsmann, who had to watch Stach carried off on a stretcher. The midfielder was initially hurt after contesting a high ball with Carlos Baleba and seemed to land awkwardly. Stach was writhing in agony before the medical staff reached him. They assessed his left leg and he eventually limped off, with his left boot off, before returning to play a few more minutes. Sadly, he could not recover. Stach went down again, took his boot off and ultimately needed to be carried away from the pitch. He had his hands on his head as the stadium recognised one of the club’s players of the season. We will bring you this after he has spoken at the post-match press conference. Sunday, May 24: West Ham (Away), Premier League, 4pm UK, 11am ET Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms