Newcastle 2-0 Chelsea: Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes help Magpies to critical win in Champions League hunt - while Blues suffer after Nicolas Jackson's WILD sending-off

This was the Europa League last without the trophy, but the prize of winning for Newcastle is acold greater.

Three much points and they volition beryllium successful the Champions League adjacent season. They knew what was astatine involvement successful this shootout astatine precocious noon. Much similar the European last that awaits for Manchester United and Tottenham, it felt similar the victors would beryllium arsenic bully arsenic guaranteed adjacent season’s spot successful the continent’s premier competition.

You mightiness adjacent person been successful Bilbao, specified was the vigor that bushed down connected St James’ Park. It was adjacent hotter travel kick-off, but Newcastle had the coolest antheral successful the stadium successful Sandro Tonali and, due to the fact that of that, they grabbed a second-minute pb that would not beryllium relinquished. 

Not that it was straightforward for Eddie Howe’s side, who wilted and could not instrumentality vantage of Nicolas Jackson’s first-half reddish card. It was lone successful the 90th infinitesimal that Bruno Guimaraes calmed achromatic and achromatic nerves with a second.

But portion Italy had Pope Leo and his archetypal Vatican address, Newcastle had Saint Sandro. The location commencement was faster than thing they person produced this season, and that is simply a competitory field. 

Big nights present against Chelsea and Arsenal successful the Carabao Cup were peculiar blistering. But this threatened to rip the tegument close disconnected the Blues. Tonali was the aboriginal torch-bearer.

Romeo Lavia thought helium had clip erstwhile receiving a walk a fewer yards extracurricular his ain punishment area. He did not. Tonali changeable towards the unsuspecting midfielder quicker than the Geordies had the club’s free, pre-match pint. It was Chelsea who looked legless. 

Tonali won the ball, gave it to Guimaraes and sent his Ferrari motor motoring for the goalmouth, wherever Jacob Murphy’s wicked transportation landed kindly for him to prod home. A extremity wrong 2 minutes. 

That felt similar the casual part, maintaining the strength for different 88 would beryllium acold harder. In fact, it proved impossible, particularly with Anthony Gordon and Sven Botman making their archetypal starts since earlier the Carabao Cup final.

Chelsea were conscionable gaining power erstwhile Jackson mislaid his ain and landed an elbow successful Sven Botman’s look successful the 33rd minute. 

There was nary request to bash what helium did. A centre-back roughing up a centre-forward, maybe. But a striker trying to intimidate a 6ft 5ins defender who was ever going to travel backmost for more?

What gave the crippled distant for Jackson was the glimpse towards Botman a split-second earlier contact, betraying his intent. John Brooks thought it was a yellowish successful existent clip but Stockley Park had entree to the X-rated replays and so, aft a pitchside review, disconnected helium went.

Chelsea brag Enzo Maresca was soon booked. It could person been for his touchline protests oregon his salmon jumper. Either way, his squad were stinking the spot out.

But then, successful the 2nd half, they were the amended side. Nick Pope, a spectator for an hour, needed his fingertips to contradict Marc Cucuella an equaliser. Then, the aforesaid again, this clip brushing implicit from Enzo Fernandez.

Newcastle were connected the ropes. Then, successful past infinitesimal of mean times, Tarzan swung to the rescue. 

Guimaraes, the captain, took the shot 20 yards retired and watched similar 52,000 others successful implicit glee arsenic his deflected changeable sailed implicit Robert Sanchez and into the Gallowgate goal. It was needed.

There was nary silverware connected full-time, but a cookware of golden surely awaits.