Brighton boosted their hopes of qualifying for Europe after a 3-0 home win over already-relegated Wolves.
Headers from Jack Hinshelwood and Lewis Dunk quickly demolished the Premier League’s bottom side within the opening five minutes, before Yankuba Minte added a third in the second half to lift Brighton up to seventh.
But Bournemouth’s win at Fulham means the Seagulls remain two points behind sixth-placed Cherries with two games remaining, with sixth place potentially good enough to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
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Sky Sports’ Dave Reed takes us through the permutations and combinations that could see up to nine English clubs play in Europe next season.
The difference in motivation and hunger between south coast side Brighton and Wolves was evident just 35 seconds after Hinshelwood made it his third successive goal when he headed home Maxime de Kuiper’s cross.
It was also a historic goal, along with Brighton’s first ever Premier League goal in Hinshelwood’s opener, surpassing Alexis Mac Allister’s 49-second effort against Aston Villa in November 2022.
Brighton captain Dunk doubled the lead after five minutes and marked his return to the starting XI when he headed De Kuyper’s corner at the back post.
Lewis Dunk is happy after scoring Brighton’s second goal.
The limping Wolves failed to get a shot off in the first half. soccer saturday Michael Dawson labeled it “pathetic”.
But Rob Edwards’ side posed more of a threat in the second half, hitting the post twice and getting shots off goal.
A late hamstring injury to Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma, the winger replaced in the 58th minute, was the only disappointment for the home side on a comfortable afternoon.
But the smiles were back at the Amex Stadium in the 86th minute as Minte struck home from inside the box to give Seagulls coach Fabian Hurzeler the perfect congratulations after signing a new three-year contract in midweek.
Analysis: Seagulls soaring toward Europe
Jack Hinshelwood celebrates scoring his team’s first goal
Brighton are dreaming of European football for only the second time in the club’s history.
Seagull’s lightning start demonstrated their focus and determination to capitalize on the wide European qualifying race.
At the heart of the surge into Europe was Hinshelwood. With his third goal in as many games, he maintained his strong form in 10th place.
Another shining light in the victory was De Cuyper. soccer saturday Michael Dawson gave Brighton a “breath of fresh air” on his first start since February.
The Belgium international, who started at right-back in place of the injured Mats Wüfer, seized the opportunity with both hands.
De Kuiper became the third player to assist two goals in the opening five minutes of a Premier League game, following Andrei Arshavin (Arsenal in February 2011) and Islam Slimani (Leicester in December 2016).
The 25-year-old’s Champions League experience with Club Brugge will help him qualify for Europe’s top club competition with Brighton.
With the Seagulls in this form, they will be thinking about their chances of finishing sixth which could be good enough for Champions League qualification as they travel to the already safe Leeds live next Sunday. sky sportsAhead of the final home game against Manchester United, who have almost nothing to play.
And these are exciting times on the south coast, with Herzeler committing his future to Brighton amid interest from Bayer Leverkusen earlier this week.
