Newcastle earn a draw in stoppage time vs. Bournemouth

Newcastle United earned a spectacular draw with a stoppage time  equalizer against Bournemouth.

Despite playing without Fabian Schar and Jamaal Lascelles due to suspension and injury, Newcastle United held their own against Bournemouth to earn a 2-2 draw at the Vitality Stadium. Goals from Salomon Rondon and Matt Ritchie earned the Magpies a crucial point on the road.

First Half

The first half got off to a lively start with both teams trading possession as a result of some intense duels in midfield. Both sides displayed urgency, but Newcastle looked more comfortable as they managed to get the ball to Salomon Rondon three times in the opening nine minutes. Bournemouth did well in their counter-attacks and Ryan Fraser nearly put the home side up 1-0, but his strike came off the post in the 10th minute.

DeAndre Yedlin and Ryan Fraser were the best players for both teams in the opening 20 minutes. Every meaningful attack started with the two speedsters down the flank. The Magpies looked good in the 24th minute when Miguel Almiron whipped in a curling cross from the wing, but Rondon just missed out on the header.

Isaac Hayden fell to the ground after feeling some pressure on his knee in the 30th minute, but after a minute on the sideline he returned back to the action injury-free. Newcastle’s back-line did well to maintain their composure in the 32nd minute when Bournemouth attacked in large numbers. Federico Fernandez and Paul Dummett blocked off two key passes around the penalty area that could have led to goals.

In stoppage time, Almiron showcased his talent by taking the ball from box to box on his own, one versus three, and earned a free-kick for the Magpies. Rondon stepped up to take the kick and drilled a beautiful, Beckham-style shot into the net to give the Toon a 1-0 lead right at the half.

Second Half

Bournemouth got off to a flying start in the second half as they pushed several bodies forward. In the 47th minute, Bournemouth earned a penalty kick after Nathan Ake went down in the box during a corner kick. Joshua King stepped up to the spot and scored the quick equalizer for the Cherries.

Bournemouth almost took the lead two minutes later off another corner kick, but Chris Mepham’s header just went wide. Newcastle looked uncomfortable starting the second half, but things started to calm down after the 50-minute mark.

Hayden had a good look at goal from distance in the 53rd minute, but his shot just grazed the side netting. His willingness to create a chance out of nothing in midfield seemed to wake the Magpies up as they attacked once more and earned a corner a minute later.

Two minutes later, Newcastle attacked again as Matt Ritchie laid the ball off for Almiron who then crossed it in the box to Ayoze Perez and he found Rondon. The Venezuelan turned and shot, but his attempt went wide of the goal.

Bournemouth had a great chance to take the lead in the 59th minute after Fraser lobbed in a cross from a free-kick, but Jefferson Lerma’s header went over the bar. The first 15 minutes were far more lively than the entire first half as both teams doubled their first half shot attempts in a short period of time.

Bournemouth were centimeters away from scoring in the 71st minute after a loose header went over Martin Dubravka, but an acrobatic clearance off the line from Dummett saved the Magpies. Rafa Benitez decided to switch up his tactics and replaced Perez with Christian Atsu in the 72nd minute.

Bournemouth took the lead in the 80th minute through Joshua King after Dominic Solanke found him with a quick pass in the penalty area. Immediately after conceding the goal, Newcastle brought on Yoshinori Muto and Jonjo Shelvey for Almiron and Mohamed Diame to throw in some fresh legs.

Hayden had a good look at goal to get an equalizer in the 86th minute, but he slipped as he shot it and the ball went wide of the goal. The Magpies kept applying pressure as Bournemouth threw everyone in defense. Newcastle tried to attack a few more times and it paid off when Yedlin found Ritchie for a stoppage time equalizer in the 94th minute. Both teams shared the spoils as the match ended 2-2.