Newcastle took a giant stride towards Champions League qualification after beating fellow top-five hopefuls Chelsea at a sun-drenched St James’ Park.
Sandro Tonali scored the opener inside the opening two minutes with Chelsea’s hopes of finding an equaliser compromised by the sending-off of striker Nicolas Jackson 10 minutes before the break.
The 10 men played well in the second half but Reece James wasted their best opportunity, heading over the bar with two minutes to go.
And Newcastle received another slice of luck in the final minute with the clinching goal, Bruno Guimaraes’ shot taking a deflection and looping over Robert Sanchez.
The win moved Eddie Howe’s side up to third in the table and put them in pole position to play in Europe’s elite club competition next season.
“It’s a black and white eruption” ⚫️⚪️
Sandro Tonali opens the scoring for Newcastle Utd inside just TWO minutes
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/0DAZnctJ0i
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 11, 2025
Tonali opens the scoring
The hosts came out of the blocks quickly and grabbed the lead from their first attack of note, sweeping forward on the counter following a Chelsea corner.
Anthony Gordon’s attempt to win a penalty after going down under a challenge from Moises Caicedo failed but the ball was reworked to Jacob Murphy on the right and his low cross was tapped home by Tonali at the far post.
Newcastle swarmed forward at every opportunity and Alexander Isak ought to have made it 2-0 after 20 minutes but scuffed his shot when well placed.
Cole Palmer had a couple of shots blocked as Chelsea finally got into the game but their momentum stalled when Jackson was dismissed after 35 minutes.
Referee John Brooks initially showed the Senegal striker a yellow card after he caught Sven Botman with a flailing arm but the VAR instructed the official to go to the pitchside monitor and it was subsequently upgraded to a red. The three-match ban that will follow means Jackson, Chelsea’s lone fit striker, will not play in the league again this season.
CHELSEA DOWN TO 10 MEN
Nicolas Jackson is shown a red card for his foul on Sven Botman 🟥
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/rpO4mr2cDL
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 11, 2025
Chelsea improve after the break
Gordon went down easily in the box once again four minutes into the second half after a challenge from half-time substitute James, but Brooks rightly waved play on.
The introduction of James for Noni Madueke at the break saw an improvement from Enzo Maresca’s side and they finally found a foothold in the game despite their numerical inferiority.
And it took a great save from Nick Pope to prevent them from equalising after 62 minutes, the goalkeeper getting down well to keep out a firm effort from Marc Cucurella.
The game had become scrappy but Chelsea were still creating opportunities, Pope doing well again to palm over a deflected shot from Enzo Fernandez.
The home crowd were nervous and Chelsea ought to have levelled late on. Malo Gusto floated over a brilliant cross that was inch-perfect for James to run on to but the England international headed wastefully over.
Newcastle made the most of their fortune and settled it late on, Guimaraes firing in an optimistic effort that took a nick off a defender and flew past Robert Sanchez.
RELIEF AT TYNESIDE
Bruno Guimarães doubles Newcastle Utd’s lead, all but sealing the three points for the home side ⚫️⚪️
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/u762ky5Kkb
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 11, 2025
