Tottenham Hotspur’s hopes of making a return to the Champions League took a hit as they lost 4-2 against Brighton in the Premier League on Thursday.

A win would have seen Spurs dislodge defending champions Manchester City from the fourth spot, but Brighton dominated the game on the south coast.

Brighton, also dealing with injuries to key players, took a 2-0 lead in the first half with powerful goals from Josh Hinshelwood and Joao Pedro’s penalty. Tottenham struggled to handle Brighton’s strong play.

In the second half, Richarlison had a goal disallowed, and Brighton extended their lead with goals from Pervis Estupinan and another penalty from Joao Pedro.

It seemed like the game was over, but Tottenham mounted a late comeback. Substitute Alejo Veliz scored in the 75th minute, and Ben Davies added a header, making a miraculous comeback seem possible.

Tottenham’s Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg hit the post in stoppage time, and Brighton looked nervous, but they held on to secure the win.

Brighton moved into eighth place with 30 points, while Tottenham remained in fifth place with 36 points, just one point away from the top four.

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The final score didn’t fully capture the chaotic nature of the match. Tottenham struggled for much of the game but showed determination to salvage some pride.

For Brighton, missing key players like Kaoru Mitoma, Tariq Lamptey, Solly March, and Julio Enciso, the win ended a three-match winless streak.