Newcastle United beat 10-man Chelsea 2-0 at St James’ Park on Sunday in a huge victory for their UEFA Champions League dreams.
MORE — Watch full replay
Sandro Tonali put Newcastle ahead inside the first two minutes and had plenty of chances to double their lead. Chelsea had Nicolas Jackson sent off in the first half after a VAR review saw referee John Brooks called to the pitch-side monitor and he upgraded the yellow card to a red as Jackson clearly caught Sven Botman with an elbow.
Chelsea had some chances in the second half to make it 1-1 as they made it nervous for Newcastle, but Bruno Guimaraes late deflected effort secured the huge win.
Newcastle move on to 66 points and up to third place with two games to go, while Chelsea remain on 63 points.
Jackson’s madness will hit Chelsea’s run-in hard
There was no need for Nicolas Jackson to look at Sven Botman the way he did before he then put out his arm and caught the Newcastle defender with his elbow. It made it so obvious when referee John Brooks was sent to the monitor that Jackson wasn’t playing the ball but the man and yes, it happens a lot during the game, but this was such a silly way to get sent off. You at least have to look at the ball for a split second before it arrives and the fact Jackson didn’t dealt Chelsea a huge blow in this defeat, but also for the final two games of the season. Jackson will now miss Chelsea’s games against Manchester United and Nottingham Forest and they have no real experienced center forward to replace him as Christopher Nkunku is out injured. Teenager Tyrique George will likely get the nod or Maresca has to come up with some magic from the plethora of attacking midfielders he has to generate some dangerous attacking situations in their final two games. Chelsea played well after going down to 10 and if they had grabbed a point in the second half, most Newcastle fans would not have complained. But they didn’t because they had no focal point in the box and now the pressure is on in the extremely crowded race for Champions League qualification. If Chelsea don’t make it, Jackson losing his head in the cauldron of St James’ Park is probably going to be the key moment that cost them.
Newcastle vs Chelsea player ratings (via FotMob.com)
What’s next?
Newcastle head to Arsenal next Sunday, May 18. Chelsea host Manchester United on Friday, May 16.
How to watch Newcastle vs Chelsea live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 7am ET Sunday
Venue: St. James’ Park — Newcastle-upon-Tyne
TV Channel: USA
Streaming: Watch live online via NBC.com
Will Newcastle be too much for Chelsea to handle?
Rebecca Lowe, Tim Howard, and Robbie Mustoe preview Sunday’s blockbuster at St. James’ Park, where Newcastle host Chelsea in a battle for Champions League qualification.
Newcastle vs Chelsea score: 2-0
Tonali 2′, Guimaraes 90′
Newcastle vs Chelsea live updates! — By Joe Prince-Wright
Bruno Guimaraes’ shot deflects home — Newcastle 2-0 Chelsea
And that is that. Just as we enter the 90th minute, Bruno Guimaraes is played in and his shot takes a wicked deflection and flies into the far top corner. Newcastle in dreamland!
Guimaraes’ effort doubles Newcastle’s lead
Bruno Guimaraes’ strike from distance takes a wicked deflection off Malo Gusto and sails past Robert Sanchez to give Newcastle a 2-0 lead over 10-man Chelsea at St. James’ Park.
Reece James heads over a great chance!
Great move from Chelsea and a cross is clipped in. Reece James is there but gets too much on his header and it flies over. Enzo Maresca and Chelsea’s players have their hands on their head. They know how big a chance that was.
Pope tips over Fernandez’s shot
Chelsea are really cranking up the pressure now. Neto finds Sancho and he tees up Fernandez. He smashes a shot towards the far top corner but Pope does really well to tip it over.
Guimaraes smashes over
20 minutes to go and it is starting to get a bit nervy inside St James’ Park among the home fans. Bruno Guimaraes is dinked in over the top but gets his finish all wrong as he smashes way over.
Pope denies Cucurella
Cole Palmer with a lovely pass to Marc Cucurella and he controls well and drives a low shot on goal which Nick Pope pushes away. Good chance for Chelsea.
Chelsea are hanging in there
Newcastle are still very comfortable but Chelsea are keeping hold of the ball well and are launching the odd counter. They just can’t get enough players in the box and up the pitch when they do break forward.
Reece James on for Noni Madueke at the break
The second half is underway and Reece James has come on for Chelsea, replacing winger Noni Madueke. James is going to right back, with Moises Caicedo moving to central midfield. It’s a 4-4-1 for 10-man Chelsea with Cole Palmer playing up top as a false nine.
Half time: Newcastle 1-0 Chelsea
Pretty much the perfect first half for Newcastle. Early goal from Tonali, then Jackson is sent off for Chelsea and the hosts are now able to sit back and pick their moments to attack. Huge 45 minutes in the season for both Newcastle and Chelsea as they chase Champions League qualification.
Neto’s shot is blocked
Chelsea with a rare break forward now, and Noni Madueke does well to pick out Neto. His shot is on target but Dan Burn makes a superb block. Chelsea are massively up against it now and Newcastle are sitting back and picking their moments to launch attacks.
Jackson has been sent off for Chelsea
Nicolas Jackson has a look and puts his arm up and it smacks Sven Botman in the face. That doesn’t look good. Jackson was booked but VAR had a long look at it and asks the referee John Brooks to go to the monitor. He shows a red card. What was Jackson thinking?
Chelsea have improved
A few decent breaks from Chelsea as Jackson and Madueke can’t link up on the counter, then Cole Palmer has a couple of shots blocked. Newcastle still look very dangerous but Chelsea are growing into this.
Tonali taps home early! — Newcastle 1-0 Chelsea
Anthony Gordon races free down the left and Newcastle want a penalty kick. Nothing is given, play continues and Tonali wins it off Lavia. Murphy whips in a perfect cross and Tonali finishes as he knocks the ball into the ground. Perfect start for the hosts.
Tonali tucks away Newcastle’s opener v. Chelsea
Newcastle are on fire early at St. James’ Park as Sandro Tonali slots home his side’s opener against Chelsea in the second minute of the match.
Newcastle lineup
Pope; Botman, Schar, Burn; Livramento; Tonali, Guimaraes, Murphy; Barnes, Isak, Gordon
Chelsea lineup
Sanchez; Caicedo, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella; Lavia, Fernandez; Neto, Palmer, Madueke; Jackson
Newcastle team news, focus
The Magpies’ fantastic midfield trio is down a leg as Joelinton is out for the season, and that’s asking a lot of either Joe Willock or Sean Longstaff along with healthy Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes. But Newcastle love playing at home and have a healthy Alexander Isak plus two of three wingers in Anthony Gordon, Harvey Barnes, and Jacob Murphy.
OUT: Joelinton (knee), Matt Targett (hamstring), Lewis Hall (foot – out for season), Jamaal Lascelles (knee) | QUESTIONABLE: Fabian Schar (thigh), Kieran Trippier (thigh)
Chelsea team news, focus
Chelsea are unbeaten in six Premier League matches including three-straight wins. The last was a 3-1 win over Liverpool, and Enzo Maresca’s men are looking ready for the final matches of this run-in. None of them are easy, but this trip to Newcastle is likely the most difficult. Manchester United is next, and points at St. James’ Park could take some stress out of a Week 38 visit to fellow top-five hopefuls Nottingham Forest.
OUT: Christopher Nkunku (undisclosed), Aaron Anselmino (thigh), Wesley Fofana (thigh – out for season), Mykhailo Mudryk (suspension), Omari Kellyman (hamstring – out for season) | QUESTIONABLE: Marc Guiu (thigh)
Newcastle vs Chelsea prediction
This really should be a beauty. Newcastle usually have the edge in midfield but Joelinton’s injury tips the scale to fantastic Enzo Fernandez and friends. That said, it doesn’t make for a blowout — more a level playing field. Newcastle 1-1 Chelsea.
Newcastle vs Chelsea preview
The host Magpies are in fourth place, ahead of the visitors on tiebreakers as both teams have 63 points and a plus-21 goal differential.
Eddie Howe’s Newcastle are coming off a loss at Brighton that dropped them a spot on the table, their wiggle room shirnking to two points above sixth-place Nottingham Forest and seventh-place Aston Villa.
Chelsea just won their Conference League semifinal second leg on Thursday but were heavily-rotated with an eye toward this crucial ‘six-pointer’ in the race for one of five Champions League places via the Premier League table.
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