Newcastle snatch dramatic draw at Everton with two goals in added time
If Steve Bruce can get Newcastle playing before the 90th minute, he may have a chance to qualify for the Europa League.
Always honest, Bruce struggled to explain how his side left Goodison Park with a point beyond praising the spirit of his injury-stricken side. If the injury-time winner against Chelsea last weekend was a classic smash and grab, securing a 2-2 draw with two 94th minute goal from Florian Lejeune was a heist akin to the Great Train Robbery.
Before Lejeune’s intervention it was an evening of trying to put into words just how dreadful Newcastle were, although it may be no coincidence they suddenly threatened when their recognised striker was taken off.
Joelinton, whose first touch kept the linesman busy with his unnerving consistency to control the ball out of play, was subbed with 12 minutes remaining. It seemed like a concession as the away fans grumbled, as if Bruce knew the evening had to be written off.
There was zero threat to Jordan Pickford as the fourth official announced four minutes additional time. Newcastle were technically deficient in the opposition half and Miguel Almiron was giving the performance of someone who looked like he could be given the freedom of the M1 and still find his way into a cul-de-sac.
All that was left was long hopeful balls to test the resolve of Everton’s back four, and in the ensuing scrambles Lejeune pounced - spectacularly with an overhead kick on 94 minutes, and with brute force to shove the ball over the line with the last kick of the game thirty seconds later.
The Everton fans had been clearing their throats ready to show appreciation for a comfortable win. They ended up jeering, although it was unclear what at. Presumably at the sheer stupidity and carelessness of it all.
"It's probably one of the weirdest games I’ve been involved in,” said Newcastle skipper Jamaal Lascelles.
Bruce concurred, almost sheepishly shaking the hand of Carlo Ancelotti.
“I didn’t apologise. I shrugged my shoulders. He just said to me he was 3-0 up in a European Cup Final. It is football, it can happen,” said the Newcastle manager.
For so long it looked like the night Moise Kean would finally offer a return on Everton’s investment, his 22nd appearance bringing his first goal since the £29 million transfer from Juventus.
Despite initially miscontrolling Bernard’s assist when the teenager's moment arrived, he was sharp enough to get away the shot that ended his drought on 30 minutes.
When Dominic Calvert-Lewin added the second with a more clinical finish on 54 minutes it seemed a matter of how many. They squandered numerous chances before the comeback.
Ancelotti took a pragmatic view, referencing his AC Milan side’s defeat to Liverpool in Istanbul as a reminder nothing surprises him anymore.
“There are things in football that are unpredictable. Until the first goal no-one could think Newcastle could draw the game,” he said.
“The team played a fantastic game for 90 minutes. We are disappointed. The players are really sad at this moment.”
Both sides are now on 30 points with a base to look ahead rather than over their shoulder. So congested is the league table, an encouraging top-ten finish is plausible.
At the very least, no Newcastle fan should vacate their seat before full-time for the rest of this season.
