Brighton & Hove Albion sealed an eighth-placed finish in the Premier League thanks to a 4-1 battering of Europa League holders Tottenham Hotspur in North London, but they will not be playing in the Conference League next season.
Putting out a stronger lineup than expected after their Europa League exertions, Ange Postecoglou's decision was initially vindicated, as Dominic Solanke's exemplary penalty put the Lilywhites ahead early doors.
Brighton were not starved of possession in the first half, but the killer pass and finish was lacking from Fabian Hurzeler's team, although it finally arrived through the man of the moment.
Fresh from scoring the winner against Liverpool on Monday, Jack Hinshelwood remarkably struck a brace to turn the tide in Brighton's favour, with both goals coming after Spurs had failed to deal with a corner.
The South Coast side were not done there, as Matt O'Riley's penalty and Diego Gomez's lovely strike further humiliated the hosts, who end the campaign in a dreadful 17th place in the standings.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
© Imago
Spurs fans may have expected an afternoon like this following their brilliant night in Bilbao, and in all truth, nothing that could have happened today would have dampened the spirits of the Tottenham faithful.
However, the Lilywhites have now set a unique and unwanted Premier League record, becoming the first team in the history of the competition to lose as many as 22 games in one season and not be relegated.
Every one of those 22 defeats will work against Postecoglou when his future is reviewed this summer, while Brighton can celebrate successive league wins over Spurs for the first time and will push again for Europe in 2025-26.
TOTTENHAM VS. BRIGHTON HIGHLIGHTS
17th min: Tottenham 1-0 Brighton (Dominic Solanke)
Cold from the spot 🥶 pic.twitter.com/hSdd7hTqxm
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) May 25, 2025
The North London party is kicked up a notch!
Tottenham are awarded a stonewall penalty when Mathys Tel is felled by Mats Wieffer, and Solanke rifles in a powerful effort down the centre of the goal, which kisses the underside of the crossbar on its way in.
51st min: Tottenham 1-1 Brighton (Jack Hinshelwood)
Starboy. 💫 pic.twitter.com/RqmaNNM5OM
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) May 25, 2025
He cannot stop scoring! Six days after netting the winner for Brighton against Liverpool, Hinshelwood brings the Seagulls level six minutes into the second half in North London.
A Brajan Gruda corner from the left ricochets off a couple of heads and fall right into the path of the Brighton youngster, who reacts in rapid time to toe-poke the ball into the roof of the net from inside the six-yard box.
64th min: Tottenham 1-2 Brighton (Jack Hinshelwood)
He's one of our own! 💛💙 pic.twitter.com/4wSlfRrKc4
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) May 25, 2025
Copy and paste.
Brighton turn the tide in eerily similar circumstances, although this time the corner comes from the right, which is whipped into the danger area and is not dealt with by the men in white.
Once again, the ball bounces into Hinshelwood's path in the six-yard box, and the 20-year-old scores one of the rarest forms of goal you will ever see; a backheel volley.
88th min: Tottenham 1-3 Brighton (Matt O'Riley)
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) May 25, 2025
Two penalties at the same end of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium pitch today, but this one surely puts Brighton home and dry.
Yves Bissouma cannot help but bring down Gomez after Spurs squander possession, and O'Riley makes no mistake from 12 yards to give the Seagulls a two-goal cushion.
90+3 min: Tottenham 1-4 Brighton (Diego Gomez)
🇵🇾💫 pic.twitter.com/doHMLnEYng
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) May 25, 2025
From provider - of sorts - to scorer!
Mere moments after winning his side a spot kick, Gomez makes the scoreline even more emphatic with a brilliant curling strike from distance, erasing any doubt over Brighton's eighth-placed finish.
MAN OF THE MATCH - JACK HINSHELWOOD
© Imago
A special shout-out must go to Gomez, but Brighton's 20-year-old phenom Hinshelwood continued to demonstrate his new-found goalscoring prowess with two instinctive and impressive finishes.
Hinshelwood did not have an age to react for either goal, but he adjusted his feet expertly on both occasions and signs off for 2024-25 as he means to begin 2025-26.
TOTTENHAM VS. BRIGHTON MATCH STATS
Possession: Tottenham 32%-68% Brighton
Shots: Tottenham 4-23 Brighton
Shots on target: Tottenham 2-8 Brighton
Corners: Tottenham 2-11 Brighton
Fouls: Tottenham 13-8 Brighton
BEST STATS
Most losses in a PL season by a Big 6 team:
— StatMuse FC (@statmusefc) May 25, 2025
22 — Tottenham in 2024/25
21 — Man City in 2005/06
Tottenham finished 17th and will play UCL football next season. pic.twitter.com/dt5hPUv8RE
WHAT NEXT?
As far as Postecoglou is concerned, a much-needed family holiday, although Spurs' hierarchy now face a critical decision over whether the Australian is indeed the right man to lead Spurs into the Champions League.
Brighton's Hurzeler need not worry about his job security, but the Seagulls' bid for European football has ended in failure, and another summer of astute recruitment likely awaits.
Ben Knapton
