Newcastle United emerged victorious in a thrilling Premier League clash against Tottenham Hotspur at St. James’ Park on Sunday, securing a hard-fought 2-1 win. The match saw a dramatic shift in momentum as Newcastle weathered a relentless second-half onslaught from the visiting side to claim the crucial three points.
Harvey Barnes opened the scoring for Newcastle in the 37th minute, expertly guiding a low cross from Lloyd Kelly into the far corner. However, Tottenham responded strongly after the break, equalizing in the 51st minute through a comical own goal by Newcastle’s Dan Burn. The goal came after a shot from James Maddison was deflected by Nick Pope before landing at the feet of Brennan Johnson, whose attempt was then cleared into his own net by Burn.
The second half saw Tottenham dominate possession and create a plethora of chances, pinning Newcastle deep in their own half. However, the Magpies held firm, relying on their defensive resilience and the occasional counter-attack to frustrate their opponents. The breakthrough came in the 78th minute, when a swift counter-attack led by Joelinton and Jacob Murphy resulted in a decisive goal. Joelinton’s pinpoint pass found Murphy, who drew out Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario before laying the ball on a plate for Isak to tap home the winner.
The victory marked a successful return to Premier League action for Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali, who was making his first league appearance following a 10-month ban for a breach of betting rules. The Italian midfielder received a warm reception from the home crowd as Newcastle moved to seven points from their first three games. Tottenham, on the other hand, remains with four points after their second defeat of the season.
“Generally we weren’t expecting to have too much of the ball,” Isak told Sky Sports. “We wanted to be dangerous on the counter-attack. It wasn’t the most beautiful game from our side but we defended really well and scored two so that’s good.”
Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou will be disappointed with the result but will be pleased with his team’s performance. His side dominated possession and controlled the flow of the game for long periods, but they ultimately failed to convert their chances. In the end, it was Newcastle’s clinical finishing and their ability to exploit Tottenham’s defensive lapses that proved decisive. The victory sends a strong message about Newcastle’s ambition and their potential to be a force to be reckoned with in the Premier League this season.
