Newcastle United were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium on Saturday, a result that could prove pivotal in their pursuit of UEFA Champions League qualification.
Minteh Strikes Against Former Club
The Magpies fell behind in the 28th minute when former Newcastle winger Yankuba Minteh opened the scoring for Brighton. The Gambian international cut inside from the right and unleashed a powerful left-footed drive that beat Martin Dúbravka, putting the hosts in front.
VAR Drama and Late Equaliser
The second half was dominated by a series of contentious VAR decisions. Newcastle were awarded three penalties, but only the third was upheld. The first was overturned after a foul was deemed to have occurred outside the penalty area, while the second was dismissed and resulted in a yellow card for simulation.
It was in the 89th minute that Newcastle were finally given a lifeline. Brighton midfielder Yasin Ayari was penalised for handball following a Kieran Trippier free-kick. Alexander Isak stepped up and calmly converted from the spot, registering his 23rd Premier League goal of the season.
Missed Chances and Top-Four Implications
Despite registering more attempts (13 to Brighton’s 5), Newcastle were unable to find a winner. Callum Wilson was denied late on by Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, while Diego Gomez headed over for the hosts in stoppage time.
The draw leaves Newcastle in fourth place with 63 points and just three matches remaining. They retain a narrow three-point advantage over Chelsea and Nottingham Forest, both of whom have a game in hand. With the race for a top-four finish tightening, every point will be crucial in the final weeks of the campaign.
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