Soccer news: Newcastle stung by late Cristian Romero equaliser
A spirited Newcastle display unravelled in the final moments yet again as Cristian Romero’s stoppage-time equaliser snatched a point for Spurs.
It was the fifth time this season the Magpies have conceded beyond the 90th minute.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Mosaddek Abu discusses the key takeaways from the eventful clash.
Failure to take chances
Newcastle’s high press from the away win at Everton carried over here. The Magpies controlled the game with their intensity, bullying Spurs off the ball.
They pushed up the pitch with energy and unsettled Spurs. Lewis Hall set the tone early, going in aggressively and staying tight on Mohammed Kudus.
Newcastle were in control and winning their man-to-man battles. Despite the positive start, they failed to capitalise on an early goal, which proved costly in the first half.
They had possession and dominance but created few chances. Of the chances they did have, Joelinton hit the near post and Lewis Miley fired straight at Guglielmo Vicario.
While their first-half game plan was a welcome continuation of their Everton display, they still created too little.
Difference-makers: Bruno Guimarães and Anthony Gordon
Bruno Guimarães came on at half-time and Anthony Gordon at the 66-minute mark. Immediately, the tempo lifted and Newcastle posed more of a threat.
It took Guimarães a short while to grow into the game, but once he did, he delivered difficult crosses and a superb pass to Jacob Murphy.
He released Murphy to drive forward and attempt a shot, but it was in the 74th minute that Guimarães really made his mark.
Gordon also deserves credit. He drove to the byline and pulled it back for Woltemade, who set up Guimarães.
The impact of both substitutes was instant: Gordon looked sharp, energetic and determined to create chances, and he buried a penalty from the spot.
He has faced criticism recently for underperforming in the league, despite excelling in Europe.
But his second-half performance against Spurs showed what has been missing: creating chances, running the flanks and posing a genuine threat.
It was arguably one of his best league displays of the season so far.
The question now is whether he can maintain those levels. Guimarães was the icebreaker Newcastle needed, but it raises the question: should he have started, given their first-half struggles in front of goal?
VAR controversy
VAR took centre stage again when referee Thomas Bramall was sent to the pitchside monitor after Rodrigo Bentancur was seen holding Dan Burn as a corner was taken.
It looked like a tussle, with both wrestling each other to the ground.
The penalty wasn’t given initially, but after reviewing it, Bramall awarded it to Newcastle.
Gordon converted from the spot in the 86th minute. The decision angered Spurs’ players, and many pundits criticised it.
These types of incidents happen regularly at corners. The Premier League match centre quoted Bramall explaining that Bentancur “clearly doesn’t look at the ball while committing a holding offence.”
To Bramall, Bentancur’s failure to make a footballing action made the difference. It was another controversial VAR moment, one Thomas Frank voiced frustration over post-match:
“It was an absolute mistake from the VAR.
“The referee did good to do the ref call and they encourage the refereeing call on the pitch. For me that is never a penalty.
“Even speaking to some from Newcastle, they don’t think it’s a penalty and we need consistency.”
What the PGMOL considers when awarding penalties:
Players who only focus on an opponent and impact their progress should be penalised.
Mutual holding should result in play continuing.
Clear non-footballing action impacting an opponent should be penalised.
VAR remains in the spotlight, this is one of those calls where another referee, on another day, might not give it.
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Pressure eased off Frank… for now
Spurs’ last win in all competitions was a 4-0 Champions League victory over FC Copenhagen on November 4.
Their last Premier League win came on October 26, a 3-0 win over Everton.
Their most recent home win in any competition was against Doncaster Rovers in the Carabao Cup, a tournament they exited earlier this season to Newcastle.
They haven’t won at home in the league since August 16, a 3-0 win over Burnley.
Spurs sit 11th in the table, only one place worse than at this stage last season under Ange Postecoglou.
Last season at this point, they had scored 28 goals. This season: 23.
They’ve conceded 18 goals, three more than the 15 they had conceded at this stage last year.
Spurs have only won three home games in all competitions this season. Their most recent defeat came against Fulham after Guglielmo Vicario’s costly error.
They have registered zero first-half shots on target in each of their last four matches.
Pressure was mounting on Spurs and Thomas Frank, who also have a poor record at St James’ Park - their last win there came in the 22/23 season.
The teams had already met in the Carabao Cup this season, Newcastle winning 2-0.
A third consecutive defeat looked likely until Romero found space and executed an overhead kick, with no Newcastle defender clearing the danger and Ramsdale slow to react.
Frank praised his team and Romero afterwards:
“I think that was the perfect bicycle kick hit with the shin.
“Let’s start praising Cuti. He deserved that for his top performance - defending, calmness on the ball, duels and then scoring two goals.
“I really liked the character and mentality the team showed after three tough games.”
The point is vital for Frank and Spurs, who are now without a win in their last four league games.
Their record at St James’ isn’t strong, and fan frustration was high after Vicario’s mistake against Fulham.
They battled in the second half and had Romero to thank, but must now build on this result.
Pressure has eased slightly for Frank, but he needs his players to turn Romero’s heroics into a positive run, starting against Brentford.
If results go the other way, the atmosphere around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will turn hostile and Frank’s position will again come under scrutiny.
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Newcastle’s Premier League momentum stalls
The match can be considered two points dropped for Newcastle, who missed a chance to climb into the upper half of the table.
Eddie Howe voiced his frustration post-match:
“I think the four performances since the last international break have been really strong.
“Maybe not the highs of Everton, but good, and we had an opportunity to grab another positive result and we didn’t.”
Newcastle cured their travel issues with a 4-1 win at Everton.
But they failed to make it three consecutive Premier League wins for the first time this season.
Consistency let them down again. They collapsed late, allowing Spurs back into the game and handing them control.
It was the fifth time this season they had conceded in added time - the third at St James’ Park.
The Magpies are joint with Brentford for most points dropped from winning positions, with 11.
Previously, this Newcastle side were known for seeing out games with physicality and game management.
But that edge has been missing. The same story continues: failing to build on positive results.
Their performance was good, not at Everton’s level, but the two goals they conceded were costly and halted their momentum.
Howe reflected on the late goals:
“When you add that to some of the other points that we’ve lost late in games, it’s really cost us in our league position.
“There’s no denying those points added back to us would put us in a much stronger position.”
Newcastle dominated large spells but failed to follow through with the same aggression and control they showed at Everton.
It felt like a defeat because they had the game in their hands until Romero’s late equaliser - a missed opportunity.
Their focus must now shift to correcting these issues before facing Burnley on Saturday.
European football remains the aim, but that will fade if they continue giving away points through cheap errors.
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