St James' Park was left stunned into silence on a dramatic Saturday evening as former Magpie Dominic Solanke broke Geordie hearts with a 92nd-minute equaliser to secure a 2-2 draw for Bournemouth.
The match marked a highly anticipated return for Newcastle manager Eddie Howe against his former club, a narrative that played out with gripping intensity from the first whistle. The home side's talisman, Anthony Gordon, appeared to have secured all three points with a second-half brace, only for Solanke's late intervention to snatch victory from their grasp.
A Tale of Two Halves and Late Drama
The visitors shocked the home crowd early on, taking a deserved lead through a well-worked goal. Antoine Semenyo was the architect, driving infield from the right flank before unleashing a powerful, low strike that found the bottom corner of Martin Dúbravka's net, giving Bournemouth a 1-0 advantage at the interval.
Newcastle emerged from the break with renewed vigour. The electric Anthony Gordon drew his side level just before the hour mark, coolly converting from the penalty spot after a foul on Fabian Schär. The winger then sent the Toon Army into raptures, completing the turnaround by firing home from a clever Bruno Guimarães pass to make it 2-1.
Solanke's Sweet Revenge
As the match entered seven minutes of stoppage time, Newcastle seemed poised to climb the table. However, in a cruel twist of fate, it was their former striker who delivered the final blow. Solanke, who endured a difficult spell on Tyneside, demonstrated his Premier League quality by pouncing on a loose ball inside the box to smash home the leveller in the second minute of added time.
The result leaves Eddie Howe ruing two dropped points, a feeling exacerbated by the fact it was his former player who inflicted the damage. For Bournemouth and manager Andoni Iraola, it represents a magnificent and hard-fought point away from home, showcasing the resilience he has instilled in his squad.
