Brighton 3 Southampton 1: Seagulls to play Europa League for first time as Evan Ferguson double caps off stunning season
TEENAGER Evan Ferguson kicked Brighton into Europe for the first time ever.
The 18-year-old’s outrageous first-half brace before Pascal Gross’ 69th minute strike has guaranteed the Seagulls at least a spot in the Europe Conference League next season.
The win has also effectively secured sixth position in the table, with the prize of a place in the Europa League, due to Brighton’s big goal difference advantage over Aston Villa.
Roberto De Zerbi was overcome with emotion after the final whistle given he had previously said that guiding the club to a season in the sun would be his biggest achievement ever as a manager.
It was by the skin of their teeth though as already relegated Southampton produced a stunning comeback with a goal from Mohamed Elyounoussi on 58 minutes.
There was then more drama as Theo Walcott looked as though he had equalised on 62 minutes only for VAR to rule it off for an offside from the forward in the build up.
The future is bright for Ferguson (18 years and 214 days) who has now hit six Premier League goals this term.
Only four players have scored as many in the top-flight at a younger age – Wayne Rooney, Michael Owen, Francis Jeffers and Alan Smith.
It has been a breathtaking campaign for Brighton in general, with them now toasting their 18th win in 36 Premier League games this season.
Kaoru Mitoma was wreaking havoc from the start, lashing a rasping shot just wide early on.
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Southampton hit back and Carlos Alcaraz had his head in his hands for missing an absolute sitter after a pretty passing sequence with Walcott.
Saints got carried away knocking the ball about and Mitoma pounced on a limp pass from Alex McCarthy to then lash a shot off the woodwork.
Alex Mac Allister tried his luck with an audacious chip – but McCarthy mopped up the damage.
Brighton were building, they just needed another sniff on goal.
That came from Ferguson after being played in by Mac Allister before drilling a low drive past the Saints goalkeeper on 29 minutes.
The Seagulls were flying and 11 minutes later Mitoma picked out another Saints victim to make a mug of.
This time it was Romeo Lavia who he brushed aside before pinging a floating pass over the top to Ferguson to slot home a second on 40 minutes.
VAR took a look to see if Mitoma had fouled Lavia in the build up – but it was not given and the goal stood.
But write an already relegated side off at your own peril as Saints finally decided to find some form to try stir up the race for Europe.
Southampton fans’ jaws hit the deck when astonishingly they were back in it as a corner and a glancing header at the near post by Elyounoussi was enough to beat Jason Steele on 58 minutes.
A blistering counter-attack then saw Walcott burst clear of Brighton’s backline before an expert finish.
But VAR chalked it off as the forward was a fraction offside in the build-up.
Brighton were back in charge though as Joel Veltman forced McCarthy into a brilliant save.
The visitors should have read the warning signs as moments later they failed to clear a corner and Gross scooped it up to drill past McCarthy on 69 minutes.
The hosts could have had another one as Mac Allister thundered a strike agonisingly close to the bar from distance.
Here is how the game unfolded…