Last despite expectations (5,3)
I believe the answer is:
after all
I believe this is a double definition.
'last' is the first definition.
(coming after everyone else)
'despite expectations' is the second definition.
(eg 'she went to the party after all')
(Other definitions for after all that I've seen before include "most importantly" , "comes in last?" , "anyway" , "When everything is said and done" , "In spite of everything" .)