Everton captain Seamus Coleman was not able to taste victory in his final home game with the Toffees as late goals from Enzo Le Fee and Wilson Isidor kept alive Sunderland's chances of European football with a 3-1 win at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
The arrival of 37-year-old Republic of Ireland veteran Coleman off the bench on 88 minutes for his final home appearance after announcing he was leaving the club after 17 years brought the afternoon's loudest cheer but, sadly for the club stalwart, the ground was more than half-empty as the Donegal man said his farewells at the final whistle.
With his long-term club and international future uncertain, Coleman was earlier included in Heimir Hallgrimsson's Ireland squad for the upcoming friendles against Qatar and Canada.
Meanwhile, Frenchman Le Fee, who had previously scored at the ground in the Black Cats’ FA Cup victory in January, also provided the assist for Brian Brobbey as the visitors staged a second-half rally.
Isidor’s goal in added time provided more gloss to a 45-minute performance which saw them leapfrog their opponents into ninth in the table.
That may be enough, with successful results for all England’s European finalists, to earn a UEFA Conference League spot but eighth will definitely get them in and as they are only two points behind Brighton in seventh the hope remains ahead of next weekend’s visit of Chelsea.
But Everton’s chances having slipped to 11th, two points behind the Black Cats, effectively look over and that will annoy manager David Moyes after on-loan midfielder Merlin Rohl’s deflected goal late in a first half lacking in event or intent had given them the advantage.
Dango Ouattara's late equaliser snatched a 2-2 draw for Keith Andrews' Brentford against Crystal Palace to keep their European dream alive.
Ouattara, who had earlier scored the luckiest goal of the season to cancel out Ismaila Sarr’s penalty following a foul by Ireland number one Caoimhin Kelleher, struck at the death after Adam Wharton had finally opened his goal account for Palace.
England midfielder Wharton had not managed to find the net in his previous 93 appearances for the Eagles, since joining from Blackburn more than two years ago.
But when the 22-year-old took aim from 20 yards early in the second half at the Gtech Stadium, he got his reward at last.
However, with just two minutes remaining Ouattara secured a point for the Bees, who remain in the hunt for Europe for the first time in their history.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin struck a stoppage-time winner as Leeds dealt Brighton's hopes of European football next season a blow with a 1-0 win at Elland Road.
Calvert-Lewin pounced on a mistake by Brighton defender Paul van Hecke in the sixth minute of added time to snatch victory for Leeds, who climbed up to 13th place in the table.
Daniel Farke’s side extended their unbeaten top-flight run to eight matches and left Brighton’s hopes of European football for just the second time in their history resting on the final game of the season.
Leeds failed to muster an effort on target until Calvert-Lewin pounced to score his 14th league goal of the season, but turned in a disciplined display to keep Brighton at bay.
Fulham's hopes of finishing in Europe were dealt a huge blow as they drew 1-1 at relegated Wolves on Sunday.
Mateus Mane put the hosts ahead with a fine finish in the 25th minute of the midlands club’s final home game of the season.
But the 18-year-old Portuguese teenager gave away a penalty in first-half stoppage time, Antonee Robinson slotting home to get the Cottagers back on level terms.
The Cottagers delivered a lacklustre performance to leave their hopes of European football all but over, three points off eighth place with a game to go.
