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Newcastle United delivered a crucial 2-0 victory over Chelsea on May 11, at St James’ Park, significantly enhancing their chances of finishing in the Premier League’s top four. The Magpies got off to a flying start when Sandro Tonali opened the scoring in the second minute, capitalizing on a sharp counterattack to slot home the opener. Eddie Howe’s men set the tone early with high intensity, catching Chelsea off guard and maintaining the upper hand throughout a tightly contested match that had significant European implications.
The turning point came in the 35th minute when Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson was sent off following a VAR review for elbowing Sven Botman. It was a moment of recklessness that shifted the momentum further in Newcastle’s favor and left Chelsea chasing the game with ten men. Despite the numerical disadvantage, the visitors maintained control of possession in the second half and pushed hard for an equaliser. However, their lack of cutting edge in front of goal, compounded by Jackson's absence, proved costly as they failed to breach Newcastle’s disciplined defense.
Enzo Maresca frustrated over Nicholas Jackson’s reckless red card
With Chelsea pushing bodies forward late in the game, Newcastle found an opening in stoppage time. Bruno Guimaraes made it 2-0 with a deflected effort that wrong-footed Djordje Petrovic and sealed the three points for the home side. The result lifted Newcastle to third place in the table with 66 points, three ahead of Chelsea and firmly in control of their Champions League destiny. For Chelsea, the defeat was a major blow, leaving their hopes of a top four finish hanging by a thread with tough fixtures against Manchester United and Nottingham Forest remaining.
Post-match, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca expressed frustration with Jackson’s red card, suggesting it had severely undermined the team’s efforts. Jackson, now suspended, faces criticism for his lack of discipline at a crucial point in the campaign. Meanwhile, Eddie Howe praised his players for their defensive resilience and composure in a high-stakes fixture.
