Aston Villa had a goal controversially ruled out after goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was sent off as they lost at Manchester United to miss out on a Champions League place.
With Newcastle losing 1-0 to Everton, 10-man Villa were on course to qualify for Europe’s premier club competition before Amad Diallo scored a looping header from Bruno Fernandes’ cross-field ball in the 76th minute.
The goal came just moments after Villa thought they had taken the lead when Morgan Rogers put the ball in the net.
It did not count as the referee judged Rogers had kicked the ball out of goalkeeper Altay Bayindir’s hands – and because he blew his whistle before it went into the net, the video assistant referee was unable to intervene.
Villa boss Unai Emery was incensed by the decision, and was furious again when United were awarded a late penalty after Ian Maatsen brought down Diallo
Christian Eriksen, who is leaving Old Trafford in the summer, scored to seal the 2-0 victory.
Defeat means Villa, who had reached the Champions League quarter-finals this season, will be playing in the Europa League next season.
They had been reduced to 10 men in first-half injury-time.
Rasmus Hojlund collected an underhit backpass from the halfway line from Villa’s Matty Cash, and Martinez charged out of his penalty area to barge the Danish striker to the ground.
Referee Thomas Bramall was left with no choice but to brandish the red card, with Villa having to bring on substitute goalkeeper Robin Olsen in place of playmaker Marco Asensio.
Martinez, a World Cup winner with Argentina, was in tears last week after the 2-0 win over Tottenham at Villa Park, with that leading to speculation that he would be leaving the club in the summer no matter what.