Final result Newcastle vs Brighton (4-1)
Score: Undav (22′ own goal); Burn (45’+4); Wilson (89′); Bruno Guimaraes (90’+1) – Undav (51′)
Newcastle used to be very solid in the Top 4. However, when the season entered the decisive final stage, the position of “Chè cho” showed signs of wobbling, especially after the last 2 rounds did not know the smell of victory. : lost 0-2 to Arsenal and drew 2-2 with Leeds.
In fact, those were two unfortunate loss of points for coach Eddie Howe’s team. Against Arsenal, they played well but were still empty-handed. In the match against Leeds, Newcastle took a 2-1 lead, but in the end still could not secure the victory.
Upcoming rivals Brighton have no clear goals in theory. If coach De Zerbi’s teachers and students were really determined to compete for tickets to the European Cups, they would not have lost to two teams in the high-risk group of relegation (Nottingham and Everton). However, note that Brighton often plays very well when facing strong opponents. Specifically, in the last 19 matches in all competitions against Big Six representatives, Brighton has won 11, the latest is an unbelievable 3-0 victory at Arsenal’s Emirates last weekend.
Compared to that match, coach De Zerbi surprised the experts when he made a series of personnel changes on all three lines, it is not clear whether it was due to physical factors or he wanted to surprise the opponent. On the other side of the line, coach Eddie Howe has a completely different choice: to keep the same squad, although some certainly played unsatisfactory against Leeds a few days ago (2-2).
Of course, Newcastle is the team that has to actively attack and put pressure, but Brighton have deployed a good defense system to minimize the danger to Steele’s goal. In fact, in the first 20 minutes, the British goalkeeper did not have to make a single shot, even though the home team got a number of shots in the penalty area because his teammates simply did the job of blocking.
But it is because of that active support that the “accident” happened to Brighton. In the 22nd minute, Undav accidentally headed home when participating in the anti-corner. The goal makes the game easier for the home team and they certainly cannot be satisfied with a meager goal. So great pressure was maintained steadily until the end of the first half and finally just before halftime, Newcastle found the second goal.
Still from a fixed situation made by Trippier like the opening goal (but a free kick from the right), midfielder Dan Burn chose the right spot to hit the old team’s net. It is worth mentioning that after scoring, this player still celebrates with great excitement. Note that the 31-year-old spent four years at Brighton (2008-2012) before moving to Newcastle.
However, at the beginning of the second half, many Brighton fans must have felt gloating when Dan Burn himself made a mistake, causing the home team’s offside trap to be broken. Thanks to that, Undav had the opportunity to “make atonement” by escaping to catch Gilmour’s poke and then coldly defeating Nick Pope in the face-to-face phase.
Immediately after that, coach De Zerbi replaced 3 positions on the field with the clear intention of turning the game around, but the game was basically still under the control of the home team. 65 minutes, Almiron hung the ball into the box for Isak to head, but goalkeeper Steele excellently saved. Then Schar and Burn continued to finish but the Brighton defenders played to block.
Brighton responded with a shake of Enciso’s head wide after a cross by Caicedo from the right. Such opportunities were not too many in the second half and it seemed that the match would end with a 2-0 result, but in the last few minutes of the match, consecutive goals appeared belonging to the same team.
In the first 89th minute, Newcastle converted too well and Callum Wilson quickly escaped to receive the ball passed from Almiron and calmly knocked down the last block of Steele to score the 18th goal in the Premier League this season.
In the 90+1 minute, it was Wilson who stretched to clear the ground for Bruno Guimaraes to easily hit an empty net to set the score 4-1. With this strong victory, Newcastle is only 1 win away from qualifying for the Champions League next season. Before the last 2 rounds, they are 4 points ahead of Liverpool (5th). In the next round, they will still be able to play at home and welcome relegation candidate Leicester. It is too good an opportunity for Newcastle to close the season soon.
TEAM OF NEWCASLTE VS BRIGHTON
Newcastle (4-3-3): Nick Pope; Dan Burn, Sven Botman, Fabian Schar, Kieran Trippier (Manquillo 90’+5); Joe Willock (Anderson 61′), Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton (Targett 90’+5); Alexander Isak (Gordon 90’+5), Callum Wilson, Miguel Almiron (Saint-Maximin 90’+5).
Brighton (4-2-3-1): Jason Steele; Pervis Estupinan, Lewis Dunk, Jan Paul van Hecke, Pascal Gross ( Offiah 69′) ; Billy Gilmour (Mac Allister 56′); Kaoru Mitoma, Deniz Undav (Peupion 85′), Facundo Buonanotte (Enciso 56′); Danny Welbeck (Ferguson 56′).