Newcastle’s Isak makes Brighton pay penalty in draw 1-1
Alexander Isak earned a draw for Newcastle with a late penalty against Brighton at Amex Stadium.
Brighton were on course for a narrow win as they led through Yankuba Minteh with stoppage time approaching.
Newcastle had been awarded two penalties that were overturned by the video assistant referee (VAR) before being handed a third when Yasin Ayari used his arm to block Fabian Schar’s free-kick.
After a lengthy review, the on-field decision stood and Isak coolly converted to take his tally in the league to 23 goals for the season.
A draw was fully deserved for Newcastle as they pushed and probed throughout the encounter on the south coast.
Brighton mustered just three further shots after breaking the deadlock in the 28th minute as they struggled to find any rhythm.
They did have a shout for a penalty of their own when Matt O’Riley appeared to have been caught by Sandro Tonali, but referee Craig Pawson waved away the appeals.
Newcastle substitute Callum Wilson went close to snatching all three points in stoppage time when he forced Bart Verbruggen to make a fine save.
The draw does no great favours to either side in their respective challenges for Europe, with Brighton staying 10th and Newcastle remaining fourth.
Brighton’s European hopes take a hi
Brighton felt euphoric last weekend after two late goals saw them come from behind to pick up a much-needed 3-2 victory against West Ham – ending a five-game winless streak.
However, they did not appear to carry confidence from that result into this encounter and got a taste of their own medicine with Isak’s late penalty denying them all three points.
Minteh earlier showed great composure in a crowded box to craft space and curl cutely into the far corner to score for the sixth time this campaign, but it was against the run of play.
The Gambia forward joined Brighton from Newcastle in a £30m deal last summer – after not making a single appearance for the Magpies.
He was happy to celebrate in front of the travelling fans – pointing at his badge and then the floor.
It took Brighton another 52 minutes to have their next shot as they were penned back by a Newcastle side desperate to take something from the game.
Home boss Fabian Hurzeler turned to his bench but could not find the right formula to get Brighton up the field and eventually the pressure told.
With three difficult remaining fixtures to come against Wolves, Liverpool and Tottenham, Brighton’s hopes of qualifying for Europe are starting to look slim.
Mixed emotions for Magpies
When a second on-field penalty decision was overturned with the help of VAR, Eddie Howe must have been thinking this was not going to be Newcastle’s day.
Both interventions from the VAR were correct, though, with the first incident rightly chalked off due to Tariq Lamptey’s foul on Anthony Gordon having happened outside the 18-yard box, while the second saw Joe Willock awarded a yellow card for diving.
It was third time lucky for the Carabao Cup winners, albeit after a lengthy VAR review, when Ayari clearly moved his arm towards the ball as Schar’s free-kick was heading towards goal.
Isak is exactly the man you want over a high-pressure penalty in the last minute and he did not miss a beat as he sent Verbruggen the wrong way.
The Sweden striker has scored the most goals by a Newcastle player in a Premier League season since club legend Alan Shearer also hit 23 in 2001-02.
Brighton could have had no qualms had Newcastle snatched all three points when Wilson unleashed a powerful shot in the sixth minute of additional time.
The draw will leave Newcastle – who had won six of their past seven league outings – with mixed feelings, knowing that victory could have propelled them up to third but a loss would have left them with a huge target on their back.
Newcastle face Chelsea, Arsenal and Everton in their final three games as they look to hold on to a top five spot, which would secure a return to the Champions League.
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