Cristian Romero emerged as the standout player during the match on the 14th round at St. James Park, equalizing for Tottenham with two goals in the thrilling encounter against Newcastle United that ended in a 2-2 draw. Newcastle took the lead in the second half with a goal by Bruno Guimarães in the 70th minute. However, Tottenham responded admirably, also bouncing back from a penalty scored by Anthony Gordon in the 40th minute of the same half. Romero’s contributions came in the form of a header and a strike at 77 and 79 minutes, respectively.
The moment that sparked the score was Guimarães’ notable effort in the 70th minute, which he executed after a cross from Nick Woltemade, finding the back of the net with precision.
Earlier in the match, Newcastle’s Joelinton nearly opened the scoring at 34 minutes, but his shot struck the post.
Despite taking the lead, Newcastle United struggled to convert their chances, with a total of 11 shots on goal, one hitting the post, and another 6 missing the target entirely.
Romero’s performance was crucial as he not only scored twice but also contributed defensively by making 3 tackles and clearing the ball from dangerous areas 5 times.
Bruno Guimarães also played a key role, netting one goal alongside completing 16 successful passes and attempting 2 shots on goal.
Eddie Howe set Newcastle up in a 4-3-3 formation, with Aaron Ramsdale as goalkeeper. The defensive line consisted of Valentino Livramento, Malick Thiaw, Dan Burn, and Lewis Hall. The midfield had Lewis Miley, Sandro Tonali, and Joelinton, while the offense was led by Jacob Murphy, Nick Woltemade, and Harvey Barnes.
Tottenham, managed by Thomas Frank, deployed the same 4-3-3 setup, featuring Guglielmo Vicario in goal, with a defense comprising Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Kevin Danso, and Destiny Udogie. The midfield trio included Pape Matar Sarr, Rodrigo Bentancur, and Lucas Bergvall, while the forward line boasted Mohammed Kudus, Kolo Muani, and Brennan Johnson.
The match was officiated by referee Thomas Bramall.
Upcoming fixtures see Newcastle facing Burnley at home, while Tottenham will host Brentford. This draw leaves the home side in 13th place with 19 points, level on points with Tottenham, who sit in 11th place in the league standings.
Substitutions for Newcastle United:
- 90’ 2T – Sandro Tonali out for Bruno Guimarães
- 65’ 2T – Jacob Murphy out for Anthony Elanga
- 66’ 2T – Harvey Barnes out for Anthony Gordon
- 90’ 2T – Lewis Miley out for Fabian Schär
Substitutions for Tottenham:
- 76’ 2T – Brennan Johnson out for Mathys Tel, Kolo Muani for Richarlison, and Lucas Bergvall for Xavi Simons
- 87’ 2T – Mohammed Kudus for Archie Gray and Pape Matar Sarr for Wilson Odobert
Yellow Cards for Tottenham:
- 22’ 1T Cristian Romero (Holding the opponent to prevent advancement)
- 56’ 2T Rodrigo Bentancur (Repeated fouls)