Newcastle United staged a breathtaking comeback to defeat Leeds United 4-3 in a Premier League thriller, with Harvey Barnes scoring the winner deep into stoppage time on an emotionally charged day at St James' Park.
An Emotional Tribute and a Frantic Start
The match was preceded by a powerful show of support from all four sides of the stadium for Newcastle icon Kevin Keegan, whose cancer diagnosis was made public shortly before kick-off. The football that followed would have undoubtedly met with the legendary former manager's swashbuckling approval.
Leeds, aiming to become the first newly-promoted side since Birmingham City in 2010 to go eight Premier League games unbeaten, started brightly. Pascal Struijk missed a golden chance early on, heading over from six yards. Newcastle struggled initially but thought they had taken the lead through Fabian Schar, only for the effort to be correctly ruled out for handball.
A Rollercoaster of Goals
Leeds struck first after 32 minutes. Dominic Calvert-Lewin dispossessed Malick Thiaw and slipped in Brenden Aaronson, who fired a low drive past Nick Pope from 18 yards. The lead lasted just four minutes, as Harvey Barnes levelled with a crisp finish for his seventh goal in eight league starts against Leeds.
The visitors regained the lead in first-half stoppage time in controversial fashion. Calvert-Lewin went down under pressure from Thiaw, and referee Michael Salisbury pointed to the spot. Calvert-Lewin himself converted the penalty, sending Pope the wrong way.
Newcastle equalised for a second time in the 54th minute with a moment of pure quality. Bruno Guimaraes delivered a superb cross with the outside of his boot, and Joelinton met it with a magnificent diving header.
Late Drama and a Heartbreaking Finish
With ten minutes of normal time remaining, Leeds went ahead for a third time. A swift counter-attack was finished by Brenden Aaronson for his second goal of the game. Yet the drama was far from over.
In the 91st minute, Aaronson was penalised for handball from a Lewis Hall cross. Bruno Guimaraes stepped up and sent goalkeeper Lucas Perri the wrong way, scoring Newcastle's 21st consecutive successful penalty at home to make it 3-3.
As the clock ticked past the 100-minute mark, the winner arrived. Harvey Barnes, on the turn, found the bottom corner to send St James' Park into raptures and break Leeds hearts. The victory was a fitting tribute to Kevin Keegan on a day of high emotion in the North East.
Key Match Facts:
- Newcastle scorers: Harvey Barnes (2), Joelinton, Bruno Guimaraes (pen).
- Leeds scorers: Brenden Aaronson (2), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (pen).
- Man of the Match: Harvey Barnes was instrumental with two crucial goals, including the dramatic late winner.
- Critical moment: Brenden Aaronson's handball in the 91st minute allowed Newcastle to level from the spot and set up the grandstand finish.
