Tottenham Hotspur captain Cristian Romero produced a moment of sheer brilliance deep into added time, scoring with an acrobatic bicycle kick to secure a dramatic 2-2 draw against Newcastle United at St James' Park on Tuesday night.
Newcastle's Control and Romero's First Reply
The home side dominated the first half, creating the clearer opportunities. Lewis Miley and Joelinton both went close for the Magpies, with the latter seeing a low drive cannon back off the far post in the 35th minute. Tottenham's best first-half chance fell to Lucas Bergvall, who backheeled a Mohammed Kudus pass onto the roof of the net.
Newcastle's pressure finally told in the 71st minute. Anthony Gordon's cross was only partially cleared, and the ball fell to substitute Bruno Guimaraes, who steered a fine finish into the bottom corner to break the deadlock.
Spurs responded swiftly. Following a triple substitution, they levelled just seven minutes later. Kudus delivered a cross from the right and Romero, arriving at pace, met it with a powerful diving header to make it 1-1.
Penalty Drama and Last-Gasp Heroics
The game took another twist in the closing stages. After a review by referee Tom Bramall, Newcastle were awarded a penalty for a grapple between Rodrigo Bentancur and Dan Burn from a corner. Anthony Gordon calmly converted the spot-kick in the 86th minute to restore Newcastle's lead.
Just as it seemed Eddie Howe's men would claim all three points, Tottenham conjured a stunning equaliser. In the fifth minute of stoppage time, a Spurs corner led to a scramble. Aaron Ramsdale's punch fell to Romero on the edge of the box, and the Argentine defender launched himself into an overhead kick. The ball bounced through a crowded penalty area and nestled in the bottom corner, sending the away fans into raptures.
What the Result Means
The draw means both teams share the points in a fiercely contested Premier League encounter. Romero's double, particularly his spectacular late intervention, rescued a vital point for Tottenham on the road, showcasing the fighting spirit Ange Postecoglou has instilled in his side. For Newcastle, it will feel like two points dropped after leading twice so late in the game, but they were ultimately denied by a moment of individual genius from the Spurs skipper.
