In a spectacular and high-intensity match, Chelsea and Newcastle cancel each other out. Two points dropped or one point gained, this draw does little to erase the lingering doubts.
- Newcastle 2-2 Chelsea : Woltemade 4’, 20 – James 50’, Joao Pedro 66’
A black-and-white tsunami crashed over the blue wave for 45 minutes. Driven by a fierce will to win, Newcastle imposed their intensity and home-field power through a suffocating press that Chelsea struggled to escape. On one of Chelsea’s rare attempts to play out, Fofana lost the ball and, on the counter, Murphy crossed for Woltemade, who initially missed the ball. Gordon followed up but was denied by Sanchez, before the ball fell back to Woltemade, who finished from close range. Chelsea were overwhelmed, and another lapse in concentration led to Newcastle’s second goal: a Gordon cross met again by the German striker. After a lengthy VAR review, the goal stood and Newcastle led 2–0.
Nothing went right for Chelsea in the first half, yet the Blues showed strong character after the break. Reece James curled in a sublime free kick to bring Chelsea back into the game, and the equalizer followed after a mistake from Thiaw, who allowed João Pedro through to score his fifth goal of the season. Chelsea had chances to win it, but Garnacho missed everything he attempted, just as Barnes did for Newcastle, with the Englishman squandering a shocking open-goal opportunity.
Each team dominated one half, and in the end, the result feels fair.