Newcastle took an enormous step in the direction of qualifying for the Champions League on Sunday, as Sandro Tonali impressed a significant 2-0 victory over top-five rivals Chelsea.
Tonali put Newcastle forward after simply two minutes at St James’ Park earlier than Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson was despatched off for an elbow on Sven Botman late within the first half.
Bruno Guimaraes struck in stoppage time to safe the Magpies’ seventh win from their final 9 league video games and raise them into third place within the Premier League.
Eddie Howe’s aspect, aiming to function within the Champions League for the second time in three seasons, are one level above fourth-placed Manchester City and three away from fifth-placed Chelsea and sixth-placed Aston Villa.
League Cup winners Newcastle journey to Arsenal subsequent weekend earlier than internet hosting Everton of their final two matches.
Chelsea’s first defeat in seven league video games leaves their bid to return to Europe’s elite membership competitors in jeopardy.
With Manchester United at residence and Forest away left on their schedule, Enzo Maresca’s crew face a tense end to their top-five problem.
Reaching the UEFA Conference League ultimate in opposition to Real Betis with a win in opposition to minnows Djurgarden on Thursday was little comfort to Chelsea after this damaging consequence.
Newcastle made the proper begin after simply two minutes with a blistering break that caught Chelsea chilly.
Countering from a Chelsea nook that got here to nothing, Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon was felled by Moises Caicedo.
When the penalty attraction got here to nothing, Jacob Murphy whipped in a low cross that Tonali transformed on the far put up.
Moment of insanity
Swept alongside by the tidal wave of emotion rolling down from the stands, Newcastle poured ahead searching for a second aim.
Alexander Isak miscued with the aim at his mercy after Dan Burn headed down Tonali’s free-kick.
Caicedo, deployed at right-back slightly than his common midfield function, was being laid low with Gordon as Newcastle pinned the Blues again.
Chelsea have been in dire straits and Jackson noticed purple within the thirty sixth minute as his second of insanity encapsulated their haphazard begin.
The ahead led together with his elbow as he crashed into Newcastle defender Botman, initially incomes a reserving that was upgraded to a dismissal after VAR referred to as for a verify.
Maresca despatched on Reece James for Noni Madueke at half-time in a bid to treatment Chelsea’s defensive points, however the right-back almost conceded a direct penalty with a shoulder barge on Gordon.
Unmarked from a Newcastle nook, Isak wasted one other good probability with a wayward volley.
Chelsea lastly pressured Nick Pope to make a save when Marc Cucurella took Cole Palmer’s go and unleashed a robust effort that the keeper palmed away.
That near-miss was a part of a interval of sustained Chelsea possession regardless of their numerical drawback.
Picked out by Jadon Sancho, Enzo Fernandez’s drive pressured an excellent save from Pope within the closing phases.
James ought to have rewarded Chelsea for his or her late barrage however he headed wastefully over from an unmarked place.
Howe’s anxiousness was palpable on the touchline and Guimaraes lastly eased the nerves within the ninetieth minute.
Burn’s go discovered the Brazil midfielder, whose shot took a hefty deflection because it looped in over Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.
Source: www.dailysabah.com