MANCHESTER, England (AP)
Manchester City, Chelsea and Newcastle secured the remaining Champions League (CL) places on a dramatic final day of the English Premier League season.
Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest were the big losers yesterday — missing out in the race for the top five.
Villa were left with a sense of injustice after having a goal ruled out against Manchester United just moments before going behind and eventually losing 2-0 at Old Trafford.
A draw would have been enough for Unai Emery’s team on a day when Newcastle lost 1-0 at home to Everton.
Chelsea beat Forest 1-0 to secure a return to the Champions League after a two-year absence.
City ended the season in third place with a 2-0 win against Fulham. Arsenal were second behind champions Liverpool.
EMERY’S FURY
Villa were down to 10 men before halftime when goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was sent off for a foul on Rasmus Hojlund and coming under intense pressure from United. But the game looked like it had swung in the visitors’ favour when Morgan Rogers seized on a fumble by United’s goalkeeper Altay Bayindir and fired the ball into the open net.
Celebrations were cut short because referee Thomas Bramall had blown his whistle before the goal was scored, which meant VAR could not overturn the decision.
Video replays were inconclusive as to whether Bayindir was in control of the ball, having initially let it slip from his grasp.
“The TV is clear ... but of course we have to accept it,” Emery said. “It was a mistake. A big mistake.”
Villa’s fury was compounded when Amad Diallo put United ahead in the 76th minute. Christian Eriksen added another from the penalty spot late on.
NEWCASTLE REPRIEVE
In a season in which Newcastle ended their decades long trophy-drought, they very nearly blew a Champions League berth at the death.
Having started the day in fourth, the English League Cup winners dropped out of the top five when Carlos Alcaraz struck for Everton in the second half at St James’ Park.
But Newcastle ended the day and the season in fifth — ahead of Villa on goal difference — courtesy of the events at Old Trafford.