Newcastle United takes down Southampton, securing European play

Well, Newcastle United may have just secured a birth into the European League in the 2023-24 season.

Against Southampton on Sunday, April 30, the Magpies won, 3-1, in convincing fashion. Coming off of two dominant wins against Everton and Tottenham, the confidence and momentum were riding high.

To start the game, both sides went back and forth taking shots offensively as the pressure continued to build. Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon and Joelinton led the way through the opening minutes as they tried to find the go-ahead goal, which was never found.

After roughly 30 minutes, Newcastle started to fall back, with Southampton’s attack breaking forward past the midfield.

The Magpies attempted to utilize a bend-don’t-break mentality, but in the 41st minute, midfielder Stuart Armstrong found the opening goal for the Saints.

Newcastle was unable to find an answer heading into halftime, but coming straight out into the second 45 minutes, within six minutes they did.

At the break, forward Callum Wilson was substituted onto the pitch and was the one to tie the game up.

The 31-year-old was left out of the starting line-up even though he contributed heavily against Everton and Tottenham in the previous two contests. However, even though he did not start, he took full advantage of his introduction into the game as he tapped in the tieing goal.

With the game tied for 25 minutes, Newcastle was the next team to strike.

After a corner kick from captain Kieran Trippier came to the head of defender Fabian Schar who knocked it nicely towards the goal. The ball hit off the leg of Southampton’s Theo Walcott who was given an own goal, making the score 2-1.

Just after the go-ahead goal, Wilson found another clean-cut goal, but it was not allowed due to it being called offsides.

However, Wilson would not be denied and found his second goal of the game, his 15th on the season, in the 81st minute.

Wilson was dealt a perfect pass from his counterpart Alexander Isak, who knocked the ball into the back of the net, cementing the game with a win for the Magpies.

The team finished the game with 22 shots and 64% of possession in compared to Southampton’s 5 shots and 36% of possession.

With the win, Newcastle United now sits at an overall record of 18-11-4 on the season with 65 points. They now have 61 goals scored with 27 goals against.

They currently sit 10 points back from second place and two points ahead of fourth place.

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The next game they’ve got comes up against Arsenal on Sunday, May 7. The last time the two teams went against one another came in a 0-0 tie back in early January.