Bruno Fernandes broke the Premier League assists record and scored as Manchester United eased to a 3-0 win over Brighton, who have qualified for the Conference League.
Fernandes has surpassed Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne for the most assists in a season, recording his 21st with a corner that was met by a powerful header from Patrick Dorgu that crashed in off the underside of the crossbar during the first-half.
The United captain was once again at the heart of Michael Carrick's 12th win in 17 games, and the first since the head coach signed a new two-year deal, clinically scoring the third shortly after half-time, which was initially disallowed for offside before VAR overturned the decision.
United already knew they would finish third but were cruising at the break after slicing Brighton open with quick passes in the penalty area that led to Amad Diallo setting up Bryan Mbeumo for a simple tap-in.
Brighton started the day in seventh with an outside chance of qualifying for a Champions League spot, but were left relying on results elsewhere to earn their first European campaign since 2023 with an eighth-placed finish.
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes to Your Site:
"It's great. I feel very happy for that. It's a very proud moment. Obviously, it's not what I was thinking about until I got this close. Today, I was lucky enough to get that.
"Jonny [Evans] believed more in me for that set-piece that we prepared for Patrick [Dorgu]. I wasn't sure Patrick was able to score with his head. He did, and at the end of the day, I got my assist from that, and I'm very happy. The most important thing is that we won today and we finished strong."
Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick to Your Site:
"I really enjoyed it. I think the boys played some tremendous football. It was a test for us coming here today. If you're not really focused and playing at your level, then coming here, I thought it was going to be a really tough game.
"The boys were fantastic - defending so well as a team and playing some great football. We all looked so dangerous, so it was a joy to watch. It was nice to finish that way."
Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler:
"A mixed feeling on one side, the worst timing for that kind of performance. On the other side, when you reflect on the season, then it's definitely an achievement because we are Brighton and our second time now in Europe, so that's why we should see it more as an achievement.
"I think we faced a lot of adversity [this season], a lot of tough periods, and we always stuck together. I always had to believe in this group, and definitely in those times when it's not that successful, then you really have to stick to your idea, to your principles, and that's what we did as a team, that's what I did as a coach.
"It's really important to trust the things I'm convinced of, and therefore I learned a lot regarding this."
By Your Site News' Dan Khan...
Fernandes is like a magician on the pitch. Having watched him up close all season, he has produced moments that usually only belong to the imagination.
A personal favourite was his assist for Benjamin Sesko's winner against Fulham. He finds himself on the right-hand side in the 94th minute of the game, turns Calvin Bassey and, with the ball still rolling ahead of him, whips it first time into the box.
If he puts the ball in front of Sesko, Joachim Andersen intercepts it. However, the placement of the ball, while Fernandes is falling as Bassey closes him down, is inch-perfect on Sesko's back foot, which allows him a touch and finish. Like magic.
Some may point to the number of set-pieces on Fernandes' way to writing a new chapter, but I would invite anyone who doubts his quality to re-watch some of the moments of the season.
A first-time volleyed cross to set up Harry Maguire's winner at Anfield - for Man Utd's first win there in almost a decade - or his assist to set up Mbeumo against Manchester City in Carrick's first game in charge, where the great Henry dubbed Fernandes 'Braino-Fernandes' are just two examples. But I could go on.
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