The numbers will say that, 15 months after sacking Marcelo Bielsa – the manager who had returned Leeds to the Premier League after 20 years – the team from the North of England can return to the Second Division. And that is, in part, because of a goal by an Argentine: Manu Lanzini closed this Sunday the 3-1 victory of West Ham, which closed an ideal week after having achieved the qualification to the final of the Conference League.
Those now led by Sam Allardyce were on the verge of relegation to the Championship (English Second Division) and waiting for a miracle on the last date that keeps them in the top flight.
The 'Whites', who needed to win this Saturday and also next weekend to not depend on third parties, managed to get ahead against West Ham, thanks to a goal from the Spanish Rodrigo Moreno, who hooked a volley on a direct side to the heart of the area.
But Leeds, like practically all season, was unable to maintain the advantage and was ceding ground to the 'Hammers', who did not reserve much despite playing on Thursday in the Conference League and qualifying for the final. On the half hour, a great combination between Pablo Fornals, who chopped the ball over the defense, and Jarrod Bowen, who centered the second post, found Declan Rice, who in his possible farewell to the London Stadium caught a volley to put the 1-1.
The tie was worth little to Leeds, and much less the defeat, which came 20 minutes from the end, when Danny Ings leaked a great ball to Bowen, who chopped the ball in front of Joel Robles and put ahead to the 'Hammers', who in stoppage time certified the victory with a third goal from Argentine Manuel Lanzini, that he would not continue in the club.
What does Leeds depend on? With two points less and worse goal difference, they will need to win at Elland Road to Tottenham Hotspur, who are playing to get into the Conference League, and Everton lose at home against Bournemouth, who are no longer playing anything.
Everything seems predestined so that, three years after that feat of the hand of Bielsa, Leeds returns to the Championship, from where it took them almost 20 years to leave.
Mac Allister, in the eyes of Klopp and historic result
Photo: REUTERS/Toby Melville
Amid rumors about his possible landing at Liverpool, world champion Alexis Mac Allister gave an assist on Sunday in the historic triumph of Brighton, which thanks to the 3-1 against Southampton of Carlos Alcaraz (he was cautioned), ensured his presence in a European tournament for the first time.
It will be the first time in 121 years for the Seagulls in Europe, who not so long ago, in 2011, were competing in the Third Division of English football. From the hand of Roberto de Zerbi who continued and improved the work of his predecessor Graham Potter, Brighton already achieved the best campaign in its history and against Southampton certified the ticket to the Europa League.
With a double from Evan Ferguson, who has scored six goals in this Premier with just 18 years and one from Pascal Gross, Brighton finished sixth in the table and fulminated the chances of Europa League of Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur, who will have to settle for the last place that gives access to the Conference League.
Southampton, already relegated to the Championship and in search of a new coach to replace the Spanish Rubén Sellés, was close to taking a last joy and with the game 2-0 against came to equalize it, with goals from Mohamed Elyounoussi and Theo Walcott, but the second was annulled by the VAR for offside.
Brighton, who have 61 points in this Premier League, still have two games to go, against Manchester City on Wednesday and against Aston Villa next Sunday, while Southampton, who will finish as the red lantern of the classification, will finish the league against Liverpool at St. Mary's Stadium.
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