Ilkay Gundogan's stunning overhead kick and Erling Haaland's second-half penalty gave Manchester City a 2-0 win over Fulham and qualification for next season's Champions League.
City needed just a point at Craven Cottage to secure a top-five finish in the Premier League and Gundogan put them in the lead with a sensational 21st-minute goal.
Fulham created a number of good chances but Haaland secured the win with 18 minutes remaining and City moved into third place, with Fulham dropping one place to 11th.
Kevin De Bruyne started his final game in a City shirt on the bench, while Jack Grealish was not included in Pep Guardiola's squad at all.
Grealish has started just seven league games this season and his absence on the final matchday will fuel speculation he could leave the Etihad this summer.
With their Champions League future on the line, Guardiola described Sunday's game as the most important of the season and they dominated the opening exchanges before making a brilliant breakthrough midway through the first half.
Matheus Nunes beat Anthony Robinson in the air before receiving the ball back from Omar Marmouche. Nunes entered the Fulham penalty area and tried to put the ball past the onrushing Bernd Leno, but the German goalkeeper was up to the task.
However, Leno's save was rebounded by Gundogan, who unleashed a powerful overhead kick that found the back of the net.
Gundogan's moment of magic sparked a lacklustre Fulham display and Ederson was forced into action four minutes later when he saved Harry Wilson's curling shot and then Ruben Dias blocked Adama Traore's follow-up.
Tom Cairney's left-footed effort narrowly missed the post and Ederson saved Wilson's second effort with a strong right hand. Andreas Pereira could only smash the rebound into the City net, albeit from a tight angle. A bonus for Fulham, but City led at the break.
Moments after the restart, Leno kept Fulham's deficit to a point when he parried Josko Guardiola's corner with his face. Then there was another chance for the hosts, but Pereira missed when he had a clear view of Ederson's goal.
City were living dangerously and Wilson wanted a penalty when he hit the turf under pressure from Nunes. Referee Andrew Madley turned down his appeal.
But Madley did not need a second invitation to award an obvious penalty to the visitors when Sasa Lukic crashed into Gundogan in the box after a graceful pirouette from the City striker.
Unlike City's FA Cup final defeat, Haaland came on to take the penalty and sent Leno the wrong way to double his side's lead and secure another Champions League campaign.
De Bruyne came on in the 85th minute, ending his trophy-laden City career and leaving the team he led to such glory to plan for life without him.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
