DOMINIC CALVERT-LEWIN kept alive his World Cup dream with a dramatic late Leeds winner as Brighton blew their chance of taking sixth and the hope of a Champions League spot.
Needing to impress England boss Thomas Tuchel before he announces his tournament squad on Friday, the frontman snatched an injury-time victory for his side with his third successive Premier League goal.
Calvert-Lewin intercepted Jan Paul van Hecke’s sloppy back-pass and rounded Bart Verbruggen before rolling a calm 96th-minute finish into the empty net.
It was his 15th goal of the season and a decent final audition for the Three Lions.
Both he and Brighton striker Danny Welbeck were named in Tuchel’s provisional list and desperately needed to shine to make the final cut from 55 to 26.
And it was Calvert-Lewin who stole the show in a game with plenty of effort but little to excite.
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There were beach balls and balloons aplenty in a party mood at Elland Road as Leeds could afford to relax after confirming their place in the Prem next season with three games to spare.
While boss Daniel Farke’s future remains uncertain after his plea to the board this week to show greater ambition, the fans showed their appreciation for the German’s efforts in keeping them up with chants in the club’s final home game.
But there was a bigger prize at stake for Fabian Hurzeler’s men.
With Bournemouth hosting title-chasing Manchester City on Tuesday, victory would have taken them above the Cherries into sixth, with the chance of a place in the Champions League or Europa League – rather than the Conference League – still to be decided over the next week.
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But Brighton were blanked for the first time since a 1-0 home defeat by Arsenal in March to stay two points behind the Cherries with one game left.
Not since 1982 had Leeds last beaten the Seagulls in a top-flight encounter, but they were indebted to Calvert-Lewin and keeper Karl Darlow for ending that run.
In a flurry of early openings, the Welshman was tested by a Carlos Baleba curler after neat build-up play started down the left by the lively Yankuba Minteh.
But the Leeds stopper was relieved that the massive frame of Jaka Bijol was in place to charge down Joel Veltman’s effort after a corner dropped invitingly into the Dutch defender’s path.
Pascal Gross also forced a parry from Darlow, but clear-cut chances were minimal.
The hosts had some fleeting moments at the other end as Calvert-Lewin couldn’t collect a James Justin pass in the box and was crowded out by the Brighton backline.
Wales international Dan James, playing wing-back again in the absence of Jayden Bogle, had a fierce effort on the edge of the box deflected wide by Baleba, before Lewis Dunk blocked another drive.
But it was all too tight, all too timid.
The game needed a sprinkle of stardust and Gross almost provided it a minute before half-time with a rasping 20-yard strike that was pushed away by a stretching Darlow’s fingertips as it swerved towards the corner, while Ferdi Kadioglu sliced the follow-up over.
And in added time, Bart Verbruggen was called into action at the other end to claw the ball away after Veltman’s clearance struck team-mate Dunk.
It was more of the same in the second period with Welbeck’s first sight of goal ending with Ethan Ampadu heading away his goalbound shot.
Farke turned to his bench on the hour with a triple change and all three were involved as Leeds almost opened the scoring.
Good pressing by Sean Longstaff forced an error and fellow sub Lukas Nmecha found Wilfried Gnonto, who crashed a shot wide.
But Leeds were dealt a blow with the sight of Anton Stach carried off on a stretcher in the 74th minute with his sock blood-soaked and leaving the Germany midfielder’s World Cup hopes in doubt.
Brighton, with former Elland Road idol Georginio Rutter brought into the fray at the expense of Welbeck, pressed for the crucial goal.
But Darlow and his backline held firm and Calvert-Lewin kept his cool in a frantic finale to extend the club’s unbeaten league run to eight games.
