In a tense affair at St James’ Park, Newcastle managed to steal a point in the final minute of regulation time in a pulsating 3-3 draw. The game also saw a couple of controversial penalty decisions from referee Mike Dean while Wayne Rooney came back to form with two goals and an assist.
Squads
Newcastle: Elliot; Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Dummett; Sissoko, Tiote, Colback, Wijnaldum; Mitrovic, Perez
Man Utd: De Gea, Young, Smalling, Blind, Darmian, Schneiderlin, Fellaini, Lingard, Herrera, Martial, Rooney
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First Half: Cracking 45 minutes with controversial penalty decisions
With both Morgan Schneiderlin and Marouane Fellaini deployed as central midfielders, Louis van Gaal went for the cautious approach at St James’ Park. This allowed Newcastle to have a majority of the possession during the early stages of the game.
But the home side were unlucky to concede a penalty in only the ninth minute of the match when Daley Blind’s corner kick was headed on to Chancel Mbemba’s outretched arm by Marouane Fellaini. Mbemba had only stuck his arm out to block Fellaini and did not have his eyes on the ball, but the ball hit his hand first and referee Mike Dean pointed to the spot.
Wayne Rooney stepped up and put the spot kick away to Rob Elliot’s left to give the Red Devils the lead. It was the first time since 2014 when the United skipper had scored in two consecutive games.
Fellaini, however, would go into the book for a foul on Paul Dummett inside Newcastle’s own box. With Dummett on the ground, Fellaini tried to nick the ball and ended up kicking him instead. Minutes later, the Belgian midfielder found Jesse Lingard who released Rooney down the left on a counter-attack but his left-footed shot went inches wide of the far post.
Newcastle’s best attempt on goal then came in the 28th minute when Georginio Wijnaldum played a neat one-two with Ayoze Perez to get a free shot inside the box. But his effort was a bit weak and David De Gea managed to save the shot with his feet. A little more conviction in the shot and the score could have read 1-1.
Ander Herrera then went into the book for a foul on Wijnaldum after the Dutch midfielder got the better of him. The Magpies then had a good penalty shout when Daryl Janmaat was tripped by Lingard just inside the box but Mike Dean declined to award a penalty. However, replays showed Lingard got none of the ball and caught Janmaat on his ankle.
United would then double their lead through another counter-attack. With Newcastle playing a high line, Rooney was again released down the left. The England striker took the ball into the box before smartly reversing a pass to Jesse Lingard running in behind him. The English winger took the ball towards the goal line before taking a low shot from an acute angle that went between the goalkeeper’s legs.
However, the home side quickly scored a goal before half-time to raise the spirits at St James’ Park. A lofted pass from Fabricio Coloccini into the box was headed down by Aleksandar Mitrovic and Georginio Wijnaldum escaped his marker to rush into the box and score with a volley to beat De Gea and make it 1-2. It was his eight Premier League goal – all of which have come at home.
Half-time: Newcastle 1-2 Manchester United
Second Half: Late drama provides an exciting finish
The restart saw Newcastle have most of the momentum and they created more of the chances. Moussa Sissoko had a shot on target that was saved before Daryl Janmaat’s shot from distance went wide. They were also winning corner kicks with regularity and it was on one such corner kick where the Red Devils conceded a penalty.
Chris Smalling was marking Mitrovic and the two kept tugging at each other in the box. When the ball was finally delivered, Smalling was guilty of holding on to the striker’s shirt and literally pulling it over his head. The referee had a clear view of the infraction and did not hesitate in pointing to the spot.
Aleksandar Mitrovic stepped up himself and sent De Gea the wrong way. His shot was low and to the Spaniard’s left and the goal sparked off wild celebrations on Tyneside.
Their joy was shortlived, however. With the score tied at 2-2, Memphis Depay had taken a shot that was blocked and the rebound fell to Wayne Rooney who took a composed right-footed shot from outside the box to find the left top corner. Goalkeeper Elliot was well and truly beaten.
But just when it looked like Van Gaal’s side would go home with all three points, Newcastle equalised again. This time, Paul Dummett pounced on a loose ball at the edge of the box and let fly a rocket of a shot with his left foot. Although De Gea may have had the actual shot covered, it took a slight deflection off Smalling and sailed into the net.
Four minutes of added time couldn’t separate the two sides and the two sides shared the spoils in one of the most exciting games of the Premier League this season.
Full time: Newcastle 3-3 Manchester United
Other Premier League scores
Aston Villa 1-0 Crystal Palace (Lescott)
Bournemouth 1-3 West Ham (Arter; Payet, Valencia x2)
