Brighton spoil Spurs' party but miss out on Europe

Jack Hinshelwood scored a second-half double

Brighton's hopes of qualifying for Europe came to an end despite a convincing away win at Tottenham to spoil the hosts' party after their Europa League triumph.

The Seagulls sealed eighth position with the win, but other results mean a European place did not go to the team finishing in that spot.

Spurs celebrated with the European trophy they won on Wednesday - but their 22nd league defeat of the of the campaign brought them back down to earth and consigned them to their worst-ever Premier League finish in 17th.

Ange Postecoglou described the season as "outstanding" in his post-match interview, but the result will revive speculation about the Tottenham boss's future.

Europa League final match-winner Brennan Johnson showed off the trophy to home fans

Dominic Solanke had given Spurs the lead from the penalty spot after Mathys Tel was upended by Mats Wieffer.

Brighton, who had been below-par, introduced Kaoru Mitoma at half-time to inject intensity into the attack and he did just that, winning the corner that resulted in Jack Hinshelwood's close-range equaliser.

The 20-year-old got his second goal 25 minutes from time with an audacious backheel effort from a knockdown at a corner.

Midfielder Matt O'Riley scored a third from the penalty spot following Yves Bissouma's foul on Diego Gomez.

Gomez, 22, sealed the win with a stunning injury time goal, curling the ball into the top right-hand corner for his first goal for the Seagulls.

Postecoglou's future still up in the air

This defeat was a sobering reminder of the problems that persist at Tottenham.

Postecoglou will argue that he has met his pre-season requirements by winning a trophy and qualifying for the Champions League.

The build-up to the Europa League final was dominated by talk of the Australian getting the sack if Spurs lost - perhaps even before today's match against Brighton.

That did not happen and at Spurs' Europa League trophy parade, Postecoglou said: "All the best TV series, season three is better than season two."

It was interpreted as a suggestion that the Australian had been told that he would be at the club next season, but he was quick to play down those claims before this match, acknowledging that "sometimes they kill off the main character".

It is now over to chairman Daniel Levy to decide how much the club's Europa League success can mask such a disastrous league campaign.

Levy is yet to give any indication to Postecoglou over his future, but clarification is expected in the next 48 hours.

• 'Weird talking about my future' - Ange on 'outstanding' season

Flying Seagulls fall short of Europe

Even against a Spurs side nursing some sore heads, this was a performance to be proud of from Brighton.

They seemed surprised by Spurs' early endeavour, perhaps expecting a more languid display from the home side.

But they got to grips with the game midway through the first half and really clicked into gear following Mitoma's introduction at the break.

So front-footed was the Japanese winger that Fabian Hurzeler may privately admit he should have started the 32-year-old.

He was instrumental in running against tired legs, and earned the corner which led to Hinshelwood's equaliser.

Fresh from his winner against Liverpool last week, the young Englishman smashed in from close range.

If his equaliser was crucial, his second was even better as he sharply backheeled a stunning effort past Italian goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.

The goal relaxed the away side, who knew a point would be enough to seal eighth spot and that European qualification was essentially out of their hands as it required Chelsea to finish seventh and to win the Conference League.

But the Seagulls continued in search of more goals, finding a third through O'Riley from the spot for his first goal since November.

The pick of the bunch came late on from Gomez, when the Paraguayan curled a stunning effort past Vicario from long range in injury time.