Newcastle and Tottenham played out an entertaining match on Saturday, with both teams scoring in a 2-2 draw. The game started brightly, with both teams attacking from the outset.
Tottenham took the lead in the 18th minute, with Son Heung-Min finishing off a well-worked move to give the visitors the advantage. The South Korean forward was in the right place at the right time to tap in from close range after good work from Tanguy Ndombele and Lucas Moura.
Newcastle responded almost immediately, with Joelinton scoring his first Premier League goal since February to level the scores. The Brazilian striker showed great strength to hold off Tottenham defender Eric Dier before firing past goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.
The game continued to ebb and flow, with both teams creating chances. Tottenham regained the lead just before half-time, with Harry Kane scoring a trademark goal. The England captain received the ball just outside the box before curling a shot past Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka.
Newcastle refused to lie down, however, and got their reward in the 85th minute when Joe Willock scored a dramatic equalizer. The on-loan Arsenal midfielder had only been on the pitch for a few minutes but made an instant impact, pouncing on a loose ball in the box and firing home to send the home fans into raptures.
The result leaves both teams with work to do in their pursuit of European football next season. Tottenham are currently in seventh place, five points behind fourth-placed Chelsea with a game in hand. Newcastle, meanwhile, remain in 17th place, just two points above the relegation zone.
Speaking after the game, Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho admitted his disappointment at not coming away with all three points. “We played well and created a lot of chances, but we need to be more clinical in front of goal,” he said. “We need to keep fighting for a place in Europe, and we will do that until the end of the season.”
Newcastle manager Steve Bruce, meanwhile, praised his team’s fighting spirit. “We showed great character to come back twice against a very good Tottenham side,” he said. “We need to keep working hard and picking up points to ensure our Premier League survival.”
The result will be seen as a missed opportunity for Tottenham, who had the chance to close the gap on their rivals for a Champions League place. Newcastle, however, will be buoyed by their performance and will hope to carry that momentum into their next game against Burnley.
