Newcastle 2-2 Tottenham: Romero scores a brace to save the point in the 90+5 minute.
Cristian Romero scored a brace, including a stunning overhead kick in the 90+5th minute, saving Tottenham a point at St James' Park; Anthony Gordon converted a penalty after VAR. Newcastle twice took the lead but couldn't hold onto all three points.
In the 90+5th minute, St James' Park fell silent. Cristian Romero acrobatically hooked the ball into the net after a corner kick was parried away by Aaron Ramsdale, leveling the score at 2-2 for Tottenham Hotspur in a match where they had twice fallen behind to Newcastle United.
Result: Newcastle United 2-2 Tottenham Hotspur. Scorer: Bruno Guimaraes 71'; Anthony Gordon 86' (penalty) – Cristian Romero 78', 90+5'.
Match summary: Newcastle dominated early, Tottenham survived thanks to a crucial moment.
Newcastle started proactively, pressing from the first half. Opportunities arose for Lewis Hall, Lewis Miley, Joelinton, and Jacob Murphy, but the home team couldn't convert their advantage into a goal. On Tottenham's side, their disjointed attack meant they had almost no noteworthy shots on goal in the first 45 minutes.
Second half climax: four goals and VAR
In the 71st minute, thanks to efforts from Anthony Gordon and Nick Woltemade, the ball was released to Bruno Guimaraes, who finished accurately to open the scoring for Newcastle. Seven minutes later, Tottenham responded: center-back Cristian Romero joined the attack from a set piece and headed in a dangerous cross from Mohammed Kudus, equalizing 1-1 in the 78th minute.
In the 86th minute, VAR confirmed that Rodrigo Bentancur had pulled Dan Burn's shirt inside the penalty area. Newcastle were awarded a penalty, and Anthony Gordon – who came on for Harvey Barnes – deceived Guglielmo Vicario, giving the home side a 2-1 lead. Just when victory seemed assured for Newcastle, in the 90+5th minute, Romero scored with a spectacular overhead kick after a corner kick, leveling the score at 2-2.
Tactical analysis: Newcastle's pressing vs. Tottenham's set-pieces.
Newcastle built an attacking game with high-pressure pressing and speed across all lines, controlling much of the first half but lacking the finishing touch to break the deadlock. Tottenham endured the pressure, waiting for set pieces – and that proved to be their escape. Both goals came from set pieces: a cross for Romero to head in, and a corner kick leading to a bicycle kick in injury time.
On a day when Tottenham's forwards failed to connect effectively, Romero's captaincy stood out. The Argentinian center-back not only fulfilled his defensive duties but also became a key target in set pieces, sealing the match with his first brace in five of Europe's top leagues.
Selective statistics
- Romero scored a brace (78', 90+5') – his first brace in the top 5 European leagues.
- Anthony Gordon scored from the penalty spot in the 86th minute after VAR ruled that Rodrigo Bentancur had fouled Dan Burn by pulling his shirt.
- Newcastle took the lead twice but were unable to maintain their advantage in the final five minutes of added time.
- Tottenham continued their winless streak after falling behind.
| Minute | Team | Player | Describe |
|---|---|---|---|
| 71' | Newcastle United | Bruno Guimaraes | The final blow came after efforts from Anthony Gordon and Nick Woltemade. |
| 78' | Tottenham Hotspur | Cristian Romero | Heading in from a Mohammed Kudus cross during a set piece. |
| 86' | Newcastle United | Anthony Rhee | Penalty after VAR determined Bentancur pulled Dan Burn's shirt. |
| 90+5' | Tottenham Hotspur | Cristian Romero | He leaned back and hooked the ball after a corner kick. |
Impact on rankings
Newcastle missed the chance to move into the top half, currently sitting 13th with 5 wins, 4 draws, and 5 losses after 14 rounds. Tottenham are two places higher with the same number of points but a better goal difference; they need to improve their ability to turn games around if they want to compete with the top group.
