Newcastle United let slip a two-goal lead in a 2-2 draw against Chelsea at St James’ Park.
Nick Woltemade scored both goals in the opening 20 minutes, but second-half strikes from Reece James and Joao Pedro meant Eddie Howe’s team dropped points after leading for the eighth time this season.
The game opened with Newcastle showing urgency and pressing high.
Anthony Gordon dispossessed Wesley Fofana early, setting up Jacob Murphy for a cross. Gordon’s resulting
shot was parried by Robert Sanchez, and Woltemade finished the rebound for the opener in the fourth minute.
Chelsea struggled for rhythm in the first half, with Newcastle capitalizing again in the 20th minute. Gordon beat James to the ball, delivered a cross, and Woltemade flicked it past Sanchez. The VAR checked for offside, but the goal was given.
Newcastle continued to threaten, with Woltemade nearly scoring a hat-trick before halftime, but his volley missed the far post.
The Blues lacked composure and discipline, picking up multiple bookings and struggling to create clear chances in the opening 45 minutes, even getting denied by a VAR review that removed a Pedro Neto goal from the scoreboard for handball.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca reacted at halftime, however, by introducing Enzo Fernandez for Malo Gusto in a move that surely injected far more energy into the Blues midfield.
Chelsea found a way back within four minutes of the restart. James curled a 30-yard free kick over the Newcastle wall and beyond Aaron Ramsdale, halving the deficit.
Newcastle pushed to restore their two-goal advantage and appealed for a penalty when Trevoh Chalobah bundled Gordon over in the box, but neither the referee nor VAR gave a spot-kick.
In the 66th minute, Robert Sanchez launched a long ball, Joao Pedro headed it on, and Malick Thiaw slipped, allowing Pedro to run through and beat Ramsdale for the equalizer.
The match opened up as both sides searched for a winner. Alejandro Garnacho forced a save from Ramsdale, and Harvey Barnes volleyed narrowly wide late on.
At the end of the day, it’s fair to say that Newcastle’s defensive issues continued on Saturday, with the team now going 10 league games without a clean sheet. The draw left Newcastle 11th in the table at the final whistle.
“Really disappointed because we deserved to win,” Eddie Howe said after the game. “The first half was the best we’ve played and we could have been further ahead.”
Newcastle next face Manchester United at Old Trafford on Friday, Dec. 26.
