Chelsea showed resilience and character to overturn a two-goal deficit and claim a 2–2 draw at St James’ Park, a result that left Newcastle frustrated and still debating a major VAR decision that went against them.
The Magpies appeared on course for a much-needed victory after Nick Woltemade struck twice in the opening 20 minutes, producing his first double in a Newcastle shirt. But a spirited second-half response from Chelsea, combined with a controversial non-penalty call, swung the mood of the afternoon and allowed the visitors to escape with a point.
Newcastle made the perfect start. After just four minutes, slick build-up play involving Jacob Murphy exposed Chelsea’s back line and Woltemade reacted quickest to punish a defensive lapse, firing the hosts into an early lead. The German forward doubled the advantage before the midway point of the first half, steering home from close range after Anthony Gordon’s driving run and cross from the left. The goal was eventually allowed to stand despite a lengthy VAR delay caused by technical issues.
At that stage, Newcastle were in control and Chelsea were struggling to gain any foothold in the contest. The visitors offered little attacking threat before the break and failed to register a single shot on target, with the home side looking comfortable despite seeing their own attacking momentum fade late in the half.
The match turned on a moment of quality just before the interval. Reece James stepped up to take a free-kick from long range and bent a sublime effort beyond Aaron Ramsdale, off the inside of the post, to give Chelsea an unexpected lifeline. From that moment on, the energy shifted.
Newcastle believed they should have restored their two-goal cushion early in the second half when Anthony Gordon was sent sprawling in the box under pressure from Trevoh Chalobah. The referee waved play on and VAR declined to intervene, judging the challenge to be a case of shielding rather than a foul. The decision infuriated the home side and proved a pivotal moment in the contest.
Chelsea grew in confidence and began to assert themselves. Their equaliser arrived midway through the second half, originating from an unlikely source. A long clearance from goalkeeper Robert Sánchez was collected by João Pedro, who spun away from his marker, benefited from a defensive slip, and calmly slid the ball under Ramsdale to level the score.
Newcastle, who failed to hit the target after the half-hour mark, could not regain their earlier intensity. They did have a late opportunity through Harvey Barnes, but it was Chelsea who finished the game on top, pushing for a winner and creating several promising openings.
The draw leaves Chelsea sitting fourth in the Premier League and caps a positive run of results during a week that included domestic cup progress. Newcastle, meanwhile, climb to 11th but are left lamenting both missed opportunities and a refereeing call that may have denied them all three points.
Eddie Howe was clear in his post-match assessment, insisting the challenge on Gordon would have been penalised anywhere else on the pitch and expressing disappointment that VAR did not step in. Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca, by contrast, felt the balance of the game justified the outcome, arguing his side dominated the second half and created enough chances to even go on and win it.
After a flat opening period, Chelsea’s response after the break underlined their growing resilience, while Newcastle were left to reflect on a match that promised much early on but ultimately slipped from their grasp.
